Calcium carbide: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 14:23, 21 February 2025

Chemical compound

Calcium Carbide[edit]

Calcium carbide is a chemical compound with the chemical formula CaC₂. It is a colorless solid at room temperature, although technical-grade samples can be gray or brown. Calcium carbide is primarily used in the production of acetylene and calcium cyanamide.

Production[edit]

Calcium carbide is produced industrially in an electric arc furnace from a mixture of lime and coke at approximately 2,200 °C (3,990 °F). This process was discovered by Thomas L. Willson in 1892 and is known as the Willson process.

Applications[edit]

The primary use of calcium carbide is in the production of acetylene gas. When calcium carbide is treated with water, acetylene gas is released:

CaC₂ + 2H₂O → C₂H₂ + Ca(OH)₂

This reaction is the basis of the industrial production of acetylene, which is used as a fuel and a chemical building block. Calcium carbide is also used in the manufacture of calcium cyanamide, which is used as a fertilizer and in the production of other chemicals.

Historical Uses[edit]

Calcium carbide was once used in carbide lamps, which were widely used in mining and caving. These lamps produce a bright, white light by burning acetylene gas generated from the reaction of calcium carbide with water.

Safety and Handling[edit]

Calcium carbide reacts violently with water, releasing flammable acetylene gas. Therefore, it must be handled with care, stored in a dry environment, and kept away from moisture.

Related pages[edit]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{short description|Chemical compound used in the production of acetylene gas}}
+{{short description|Chemical compound}}
 {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
 ==Calcium Carbide==
-[[File:Carbide_lamp_lit.jpg|thumb|right|A carbide lamp in use, demonstrating the production of acetylene gas.]]
+[[File:Calcium_carbide_formula.png|thumb|right|Chemical formula of calcium carbide]]
-'''Calcium carbide''' is a chemical compound with the chemical formula CaC_. It is primarily used in the production of [[acetylene]] gas, which is utilized in various industrial applications, including welding and as a precursor to other chemicals.
+'''Calcium carbide''' is a chemical compound with the chemical formula CaC<sub>2</sub>. It is a colorless solid at room temperature, although technical-grade samples can be gray or brown. Calcium carbide is primarily used in the production of [[acetylene]] and [[calcium cyanamide]].
-==Chemical Properties==
-Calcium carbide is a grayish-black solid at room temperature. It reacts with water to produce acetylene gas and calcium hydroxide according to the following chemical equation:
-: CaC_ + 2H_O _ C_H_ + Ca(OH)_
-This reaction is highly exothermic and is the basis for its use in [[carbide lamp]]s and other applications.
 ==Production==
-Calcium carbide is produced industrially in an electric arc furnace from a mixture of lime (CaO) and coke at approximately 2,200 °C (3,990 °F). The reaction is as follows:
+Calcium carbide is produced industrially in an [[electric arc furnace]] from a mixture of [[lime (material)|lime]] and [[coke]] at approximately 2,200 °C (3,990 °F). This process was discovered by [[Thomas L. Willson]] in 1892 and is known as the Willson process.
-: CaO + 3C _ CaC_ + CO
+==Applications==
+[[File:Karbid_vápenatý.JPG|thumb|left|Technical-grade calcium carbide]]
+The primary use of calcium carbide is in the production of acetylene gas. When calcium carbide is treated with water, acetylene gas is released:
-The resulting calcium carbide is then cooled and crushed to the desired size.
+: CaC<sub>2</sub> + 2H<sub>2</sub>O → C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>2</sub> + Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub>
-==Applications==
-===Acetylene Production===
+This reaction is the basis of the industrial production of acetylene, which is used as a fuel and a chemical building block. Calcium carbide is also used in the manufacture of calcium cyanamide, which is used as a fertilizer and in the production of other chemicals.
-The primary use of calcium carbide is in the production of acetylene gas. Acetylene is used as a fuel and a chemical building block. It is particularly important in the [[welding]] industry due to its high flame temperature.
-===Carbide Lamps===
+==Historical Uses==
-[[File:Carbide_lamp_lit.jpg|thumb|left|A close-up of a carbide lamp, showing the flame produced by acetylene gas.]]
+Calcium carbide was once used in [[carbide lamp]]s, which were widely used in mining and caving. These lamps produce a bright, white light by burning acetylene gas generated from the reaction of calcium carbide with water.
-Calcium carbide is used in carbide lamps, which were once common in mining and caving. These lamps produce light by the combustion of acetylene gas generated from the reaction of calcium carbide with water.
-===Chemical Synthesis===
+[[File:Carbide_lamp_lit.jpg|thumb|right|A lit carbide lamp]]
-Calcium carbide is also used in the synthesis of various organic chemicals. It serves as a precursor to acetylene derivatives and other chemicals in the [[chemical industry]].
 ==Safety and Handling==
-Calcium carbide must be handled with care due to its reactivity with water and the flammability of acetylene gas. Proper storage and handling procedures are essential to prevent accidental ignition or explosion.
+Calcium carbide reacts violently with water, releasing flammable acetylene gas. Therefore, it must be handled with care, stored in a dry environment, and kept away from moisture.
 ==Related pages==
 * [[Acetylene]]
+* [[Calcium cyanamide]]
+* [[Electric arc furnace]]
 * [[Carbide lamp]]
-* [[Chemical industry]]
-* [[Welding]]
 [[Category:Calcium compounds]]
 [[Category:Carbides]]
 [[Category:Industrial gases]]