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I must be stupid because I just don't get this:
"Consider the rxn:
HCN + C2H3O2- <--------> CN- + HC2H3O2
The pKa of HCN is 9.31 and the pKa of HC2H3O2 is 4.74. If the rxn is initiated under standard conditions, what is true about the concentrations of HCN and HC2H3O2 when the rxn reaches equilibrium?"
My understanding of reacting acids and bases was that it would proceed to completion so that only a salt remained. EG you could separate the above rxn to:
HCN + H20 <---> CN- + H30
C2H3O2- + H2O <---> C2H4O2 + OH-
The H3O and OH- would constantly be canceling each other out, so both rxns would proceed to completion until only a CN- and C2H4O2 remained.
At the same time I see that no salt results, so this doesn't exactly fit the definition of a neutralization rxn. Yet we are reacting acids and bases. I am so confused, please help 🙁
"Consider the rxn:
HCN + C2H3O2- <--------> CN- + HC2H3O2
The pKa of HCN is 9.31 and the pKa of HC2H3O2 is 4.74. If the rxn is initiated under standard conditions, what is true about the concentrations of HCN and HC2H3O2 when the rxn reaches equilibrium?"
My understanding of reacting acids and bases was that it would proceed to completion so that only a salt remained. EG you could separate the above rxn to:
HCN + H20 <---> CN- + H30
C2H3O2- + H2O <---> C2H4O2 + OH-
The H3O and OH- would constantly be canceling each other out, so both rxns would proceed to completion until only a CN- and C2H4O2 remained.
At the same time I see that no salt results, so this doesn't exactly fit the definition of a neutralization rxn. Yet we are reacting acids and bases. I am so confused, please help 🙁
