1. What Is % Recovery?

% Recovery is a measure used in chemistry and various industries to determine the efficiency of a process by comparing the amount of substance actually obtained to the amount theoretically expected.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the % Recovery formula:

Where:

• Amount Obtained — Actual amount of substance recovered (g)
• Amount Expected — Theoretical amount of substance expected (g)

Explanation: This formula calculates the percentage of the expected amount that was successfully recovered in a process.

3. Importance of % Recovery Calculation

Details: Calculating % recovery is essential for evaluating process efficiency, quality control, and optimizing procedures in chemical synthesis, extraction processes, and manufacturing.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both Amount Obtained and Amount Expected in grams. Ensure values are positive, with Amount Expected greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does a 100% recovery indicate?
A: A 100% recovery indicates that the entire expected amount was successfully obtained, suggesting perfect efficiency in the process.

Q2: Why might recovery be less than 100%?
A: Recovery may be less than 100% due to losses during transfer, incomplete reactions, evaporation, or side reactions.

Q3: Can recovery exceed 100%?
A: Yes, recovery can exceed 100% if impurities are present, measurement errors occur, or if the theoretical yield was underestimated.

Q4: How is this different from percent yield?
A: While similar, percent recovery typically refers to purification processes, while percent yield refers to chemical reaction efficiency.

Q5: What units should be used?
A: Consistent mass units should be used (typically grams), but any consistent unit of measurement will work as long as both values use the same unit.