What is the percentage yield of dry polymer you obtained? Assume the polymer consists of 72% acrylate and 28% acryclic acid, with an average monomer molecular mass of 87.9g/mol.

This question is from making a superabsorbent polymer through free-radical polymerization using acryclic acid, MBA, and VA-044. Would you please tell me how to calculate it asap?

Question

What is the percentage yield of dry polymer you obtained? Assume the polymer consists of 72% acrylate and 28% acryclic acid, with an average monomer molecular mass of 87.9g/mol.

This question is from making a superabsorbent polymer through free-radical polymerization using acryclic acid, MBA, and VA-044. Would you please tell me how to calculate it asap?

anonymous · Answer

My instructor said to ignore the mass of MBA and VA-044. And the mass of the product I obtained was 0.112g.

abb0t · Answer

Assume that you have 100%, since 0.72 + 0.28 = 1
and 1 x 100 = 100%.

So, that means you have 0.72 grams of acrylate, and 0.28 grams of acrylic acid. 
Now, to find percent yield, you have to use:
$\sf \color{red}{\frac{actual ~yield}{theoretical~ yield}}\times 100$ 
this gives you percent yield.
What this tells you is how how efficient the reaction is under certain conditions.