[gsel]

How come these two reactions* are not likely to occur according to their pKa values?
* HCN + CH3CO2-NA+  --> NA+-CN + CH3CO2H
* CH3CH2OH +NA+-CN  --> CH3CH2O-NA+ + HCN

Thanks!

[TheUnassuming]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like you have two equations showing the equilibrium between HCN and sodium acetate or acetic acid and sodium cyanide:

HCN + CH3CO2Na <-> NaCN + CH3CO2H

So given the pKa of the two protonated forms (HCN and CH3CO2H), only one of the reactions shown is most likely to occur.  That said its an acid/base equilibrium so technically the other does happen just very slowly and is almost immediately reversed by the other.