Consider the reaction: HCN (aq) + H2O (l) <-_> CN- (aq) + H2O+ (aq) Which of the
ID: 1027906 • Letter: C
Question
Consider the reaction:
HCN (aq) + H2O (l) <-_> CN- (aq) + H2O+ (aq)
Which of the following statements will decrease the amount of work the system could perform?
A. Add water to the reaction vessel
B. Increase the concentration of HCN
C. Boil off water from the container (increasing the concentration of all species)
D. Add solid NaOH to the reaction (assume no volume change)
E. Selectively remove CN- from the solution
Please explain why option C is correct and why options A, B, D, and E are incorrect. Thank you!
Explanation / Answer
D. Add solid NaOH to the reaction. This NaOH will abstract proton from HCN will easily produce CN anion. And reaction will be spontaneous. But no extra work has to be done by the system.