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april.burials
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On our study guide, our teacher gave us some problems. This one baffles me for some reason.
1. When solid NaCN is added to water, the pH ________________.
a.remains at 7
b.becomes greater than 7 because of the hydrolysis of Na+
c.becomes less than 7 because of the hydrolysis of Na+
d.becomes greater than 7 because of the hydrolysis of CN−
e.becomes less than 7 because of the hydrolysis of CN−
Answer: d. becomes greater than 7 because of the hydrolysis of CN−
He gave us the answers as well, but I'm having a hard time conceptualizing this.
Why does CN hydrolyze? I thought hydrolysis was the splitting of H2O, and obviously Na got a good chuck of that as well. Didn't Na hydrolyze too?
Obviously, the equation goes:
NaCN + H2O => NaOH + HCN
but that doesn't help me.
1. When solid NaCN is added to water, the pH ________________.
a.remains at 7
b.becomes greater than 7 because of the hydrolysis of Na+
c.becomes less than 7 because of the hydrolysis of Na+
d.becomes greater than 7 because of the hydrolysis of CN−
e.becomes less than 7 because of the hydrolysis of CN−
Answer: d. becomes greater than 7 because of the hydrolysis of CN−
He gave us the answers as well, but I'm having a hard time conceptualizing this.
Why does CN hydrolyze? I thought hydrolysis was the splitting of H2O, and obviously Na got a good chuck of that as well. Didn't Na hydrolyze too?
Obviously, the equation goes:
NaCN + H2O => NaOH + HCN
but that doesn't help me.