Hydrocyanic acid (HCN) is a much weaker acid than nitrous acid (HNO2). The pH values of 0.1 M solutions of the potassium salts of these two acids were determined separately. The statement which describes these determinations most accurately is:

a. ) Both solutions are acidic, with the HCN acid-derived solution the more acidic.
b. ) Both solutions are acidic, with the HNO2 acid-derived solution the more acidic.
c. ) Both solutions are neutral.
d. ) Both solutions are basic, with the HNO2 acid-derived solution the more basic.
e. ) Both solutions are basic, with the HCN acid-derived solution the more basic.

If you can't reason through to the answer, why not just work the problem and see what the pH is for the two solutions.

For example, for the HCN:
CN^- + HOH ==> HCN + OH^-
Kb = Kw/Ka = (HCN)(OH^-)/(CN^-)
Plug in the values for Kw, Ka, and (CN^-) and solve for (OH^-). (Remember HCN = Y and OH = Y so the numerator is just Y^2.
Do the same for KNO2.
Y^2/0.1 = 1 x 10^-14/4.9 x 10^-10. You need to look up the value for Ka for HCN and HNO2. I'm using an OLD set of tables.

lol, mcmaster first year chem quiz...i bet you anything that he/she is in life/health science...

The correct statement is:

b. ) Both solutions are acidic, with the HNO2 acid-derived solution the more acidic.

To determine which solution is more acidic, we can look at the dissociation of hydrocyanic acid (HCN) and nitrous acid (HNO2).

HCN can be represented with the following equilibrium reaction:
HCN ⇌ H+ + CN-

HNO2 can be represented with the following equilibrium reaction:
HNO2 ⇌ H+ + NO2-

In both cases, the proton (H+) is released, indicating that the solutions are acidic.

To determine which solution is more acidic, we need to consider the relative strengths of the conjugate bases, CN- and NO2-.

CN- is a weaker base compared to NO2-, meaning it is less likely to accept a proton and reform the acid. This indicates that HCN is a weaker acid compared to HNO2.

Therefore, the correct statement is:

b. Both solutions are acidic, with the HNO2 acid-derived solution being more acidic.