Which species, fulminic acid (HCNO) or isocyanic acid (HNCO) , is present in higher concentration at equilibrium at 298 K? Justify your answer in terms of thermodynamic favorability and the equilibrium constant.
a. isocyanic acid (HNCO) will be present in higher concentration. G is essentially equal to H because S is essentially zero, so G ~ -246 kJ/molrxn, indicating the forward reaction is thermodynamically favorable. since G is negative, K > 1 (G = -RTlnK) , resulting in a higher concentration of product than reaction at equilibrium.
b. in the diagram on the left, the C atom has a formal charge of zero and the O atom has a formal charge of -1. in the diagram on the right, the C atom has a formal charge of -1 and the O atom has a formal charge of zero. the diagram on the left is the better representation because it puts the negative formal charge on oxygen, which is more electronegative than carbon.
c. naoh will neutralize some of the HNO₂ to produce NO₂-. the resulting solution contains a mixture of a weak acid and its conjugate base, which is a buffer solution. HNO₂ + OH- -> NO₂- + H₂O
d. calculate the bonds broken in HCNO & bonds formed in HNCO & subtract bonds formed FROM bonds broken (broken - formed) (3 sigfigs) (-246 kJ/molrxn)