Question

What is a chemical reaction that shows what happens when HCN dissolves in water?

Answer 1

`H-C-=N + H_2OrightleftharpoonsH_3O^+ +""^(-)C-=N`

Explanation:

Hydrogen cyanide behaves as a weak Bronsted acid: `pK_a=9.21`.

In water, cyanide salts such as `Na^(+)""^(-)C-=N` give rise to a slightly basic solution. Why so?