calcium carbide
(inorganic chemistry) CaC2 An alkaline earth carbide obtained in the pure form as transparent crystals that decompose in water; used to make acetylene gas.
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(inorganic chemistry) CaC2 An alkaline earth carbide obtained in the pure form as transparent crystals that decompose in water; used to make acetylene gas.
| Calcium carbide | |
|---|---|
| IUPAC name | Calcium Carbide |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | |
| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | CaC2 |
| Molar mass | 64.1 g/mol |
| Appearance | gray-black Crystals |
| Density | 2.22 g/cm³, solid (industrial grade) |
| Melting point |
2300 °C |
| Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references |
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Calcium carbide is a chemical compound with the chemical formula CaC2. Its appearance depends on the grade and ranges from black through to grayish white lumps. Its main use now is as a source of acetylene. In China, acetylene is a feedstock for the chemical industry, in particular for the production of polyvinyl chloride, PVC. Locally produced acetylene is more economic than using imported oil.[1] Production of calcium carbide in China has been increasing. In 2005 output was 8.94 million tons with capacity to produce 17 million tons.[2] In the USA, Europe and Japan consumption is generally reducing.[3] Production levels in the USA in 1990 were 236,000 tons pa.[4]
Calcium carbide is produced industrially in an electric arc furnace loaded with a mixture of lime and coke at about 2000 °C, this method has not changed since its invention in 1888. Calcium carbide is formed:
Calcium carbide synthesis requires an extremely high temperature, ~2000 °C, which is not practically achievable by traditional combustion, so the reaction is performed in an electric arc furnace with graphite electrodes. The carbide product produced generally contains around 80% calcium carbide by weight. The carbide is crushed to produce small lumps that can range a few mm up to 50mm. The impurities are concentrated in the finer fractions. The CaC2 content of the product is assayed by measuring the amount of acetylene produced on hydrolysis. As an example the British and German standards for the content of the coarser fractions are 295 L/kg and 300 L/kg respectively. Impurities present in the carbide include phosphide, which produces phosphine when hydrolysed.[5]
This reaction was an important part of the industrial revolution in chemistry. In the USA this occurred as a product of massive amounts of cheap hydro-electric power liberated from Niagara Falls before the turn of the 20th century.
The method for the production in an electric arc furnace was discovered independently by T. L Willson and H. Moissan in 1888 and 1892.[6][7]
When extremely pure, calcium carbide is a near colourless solid. The common crystalline form at room temperature is a distorted rock salt structure with the C22− units lying parallel.[4]
The reaction of calcium carbide with water was discovered by Friedrich Wohler in 1862.
This reaction is the basis of the industrial manufacture of acetylene, and is the major industrial use of calcium carbide.
Calcium carbide reacts with nitrogen at high temperature to form calcium cyanamide:
Calcium cyanamide is used as fertilizer. It is hydrolysed to cyanamide,
H2NCN.[4]
Calcium carbide is used:
Calcium carbide was used in carbide lamps, in which water drips on carbide and the formed acetylene is ignited. These lamps were of no use in coal mines where the presence of the explosive gas methane made them a serious hazard. The presence of explosive gases in coal mines led to the miner safety lamp. However carbide lamps were used extensively in slate, copper and tin mines, but most have now been replaced by electric lamps. Carbide lamps are still used by some cavers exploring caves and other underground areas,[8] though they are increasingly being replaced in this use by LED lights. They were also used extensively as head lights in early automobiles, though in this application they are also obsolete, having been replaced entirely by electric lamps.
In the ripening of fruit, it is used as source of acetylene gas, which is a ripening agent (similar to ethylene).[9]
It is still used in the Netherlands and Belgium for a traditional custom called Carbidschieten (Shooting Carbide). To create an explosion, carbide and water are put in a milk churn with a lid. Ignition is usually done with a torch. Some villages in the Netherlands fire multiple milk churns in a row as an oldyear tradition. The old tradition comes from the old pagan religion to chase off spirits.
It is used in toy cannons (see Big-Bang Cannon), as well as in bamboo cannons.
Together with calcium phosphide, calcium carbide is used in floating, self-igniting naval signal flares (see Holmes' Marine Life Protection Association).
Calcium carbide is also used in small carbide lamps called carbide candles, which are used for blackening rifle sights to reduce glare. These "candles" are used due to the sooty flame produced by acetylene.
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