Sodium cyanide, NaCN, is extremely poisonous, but it has very useful applications in gold and silver metallurgy and in the electroplating of metals. Aqueous solutions of cyanides are especially hazardous if they become acidified, because toxic hydrogen cyanide gas, HCN(g), is released. Are NaCN(aq) solutions normally acidic, basic, or pH neutral? What is the pH of 0.50 M NaCN(aq)? Note that solutions containing cyanide ion must be handled with extreme caution. They should be handled only in a fume hood by an operator wearing protective clothing.