Question

Hydrocyanic acid (HCN) is a strong acid. In a water solution of this acid, which of the following would you expect to find more of?
(Points : 1)
HCN

OH-

H+(H3O+)

HCN+

Answer 1

it's "strong" acid, meaning it dissociates readily.

\(HCN +H_2O\rightarrow H_3O^++CN^-\)

Answer 2

so its A ? @aaronq

Answer 3

no, the equilibrium would lie on the right side of the equation i posted above.

Answer 4

I still dont understand

Answer 5

@aaronq

Answer 6

a "strong" acid means that it breaks apart easily, releasing a proton into solution (in reality this is picked up by water). This means that the species present are \(H_3O^+\) and \(CN^-\) and not HCN.

Answer 7

if you look at the equation i first posted you'll see that those species are on the right side of the equation.

Answer 8

So C?

Answer 9

can't give you direct answers.

Answer 10

I just dont understand how you find the answer from the equation

Answer 11

do you understand what "strong" and "weak" acids/bases are?

Answer 12

yes

Answer 13

okay, so if you put HCN into a beaker of water, it's not going to stay as HCN.
It's going to mostly break apart into \(H^+\) (or more accurately \(H_3O^+\) as is combines with a water molecule) and \(CN^-\).

Answer 14

it's the same with any strong acid, like HCl

\(HCl \rightarrow H^++Cl^- \)