Question

Hydrocyanic acid, HCN, is a weak acid. (a) Write the chemical equation for the dissociation of HCN in water. (b) Identify the Brønsted-Lowry conjugate acid-base pairs in the equation above. (c) Write the chemical equation for the reaction of HCN with NaOH. (d) Write the chemical equation for dissociation of NaCN in water. (e) Write the chemical equation for the reaction of NaCN and HCI.

Answer 1

Answer: a) $HCN(aq.)+H_2O\rightleftharoons H_3O^+(aq.)+CN^-(aq.)$

b) $HCN$ : acid $CN^-$ :conjugate base.

And, $H_2O$ : base $H_3O^+$: conjugate acid.

c) $HCN(aq.)+NaOH(aq)\rightleftharoons NaCN(aq.)+H_2O(l)$

d) $NaCN(aq)\rightarrow Na^+(aq.)+CN^-(aq)$

e) $NaCN(aq)+HCl(aq)\rightarrow NaCl(aq.)+HCN(aq)$

Explanation:

a) Weak acid is defined as the acid which does not completely dissociates when dissolved in water. They have high pH. These releases $H^+$ ions in their aqueous states.

The equation for the dissociation of $HCN$ acid is given by:

$HCN(aq.)+H_2O\rightleftharoons H_3O^+(aq.)+CN^-(aq.)$

b) According to the Bronsted-Lowry conjugate acid-base theory, an acid is defined as a substance which looses donates protons and thus forming conjugate base and a base is defined as a substance which accepts protons and thus forming conjugate acid.

For the given chemical equation:

$HCN$ is loosing a proton, thus it is considered as an acid and after losing a proton, it forms $CN^-$ which is a conjugate base.

And, $H_2O$ is gaining a proton, thus it is considered as a base and after gaining a proton, it forms $H_3O^+$ which is a conjugate acid.

c) Neutralization reaction is a reaction in which an acid reacts with base to produce salt and water.

$HCN(aq.)+NaOH(aq)\rightarrow NaCN(aq.)+H_2O(l)$

d) The chemical equation for dissociation of $NaCN$ in water.

$NaCN(aq)\rightarrow Na^+(aq.)+CN^-(aq)$

e) The chemical equation for the reaction of $NaCN$ and $HCI$

$NaCN(aq)+HCl(aq)\rightarrow NaCl(aq.)+HCN(aq)$