Explain why aldehydes and ketones react with a weak acid such as hydrogen cyanide but do not react with strong acids such as hcl or h2so4 (other than being protonated by them).

The cyanide ion is a strong nucleophile.

Explanation:

Strong acids

Strong acids like hydrochloric and sulfuric acid dissociate completely in solution.

Because they are strong acids, their conjugate bases are extremely weak bases/nucleophiles.

Thus, they can protonate the carbonyl oxygen, but the conjugate bases cannot act as nucleophiles.

Weak acids

Weak acids like HCN dissociate only slightly in solution.

Because HCN is a weak acid, its conjugate base is a strong nucleophile.

Thus, it generates relatively few hydronium ions, but the cyanide ion is a strong nucleophile that can attack the partially positive carbon and form the cyanohydrin.

RCH=O + CN⁻ ⟶ RCH(CN)O⁻ ⟶ RCH(CN)OH

As the CN⁻ ions react with the aldehyde or ketone, they are removed from solution.

According to Le Châtelier's Principle, more HCN dissociates to replace the CN⁻ ions, and the reaction goes nearly to completion.

i believe the answer is a.

answer: e.   sour taste

explanation: acids are those substances which dissociates in water to give ions. as they dissociate to give ions, they act as electrolytes and thus are electrically conductive. acids are sour in taste. example: hcl

bases are those substances which dissociates in water to give ions or accepts ions. as they dissociate to give ions, they act as electrolytes and thus are electrically conductive. bases are bitter in taste. bases are slippery in nature.