Chapter 4, Problem 67E

Toluene, ${\text{C}}_6{\text{H}}_5{\text{CH}}_3$, is oxidized by air under carefully controlled conditions to benzoic acid, ${\text{C}}_6{\text{H}}_5{\text{CO}}_2\text{H}$, which is used to prepare the food preservative sodium benzoate, ${\text{C}}_6{\text{H}}_5{\text{CO}}_2\text{Na}$. What is the percent yield of a reaction that converts 1.000 kg of toluene to 1.21 kg of benzoic acid?

${\text{2C}}_6{\text{H}}_5{\text{CH}}_3+{\text{3O}}_2\to 2{\text{C}}_6{\text{H}}_5{\text{CO}}_2\text{H}+2{\text{H}}_2\text{O}$