Calcium Carbide - CaC2

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What is Calcium Carbide?

Pure Calcium Carbide is a colourless and odourless solid with the chemical formula CaC2.

Commercial Calcium Carbide may appear in various colors depending on the impurities present, including calcium, magnesium, and other oxides.

CaC2 is a chemical compound known as Calcium Carbide. It is also referred to as calcium acetylide, phenyl glyceryl ether diacetate, and glycerol phenyl ether diacetate. In its pure form, Calcium Carbide is a colourless crystalline solid, resembling a rock-like structure at room temperature.

Table of Contents

Calcium Carbide Structure (CaC2 Structure)

Production of Calcium Carbide - CaC2

The industrial production of calcium carbide follows these steps:

• The mixture consists of coke and lime.
• The temperature is set at approximately 2,200 °C.
• The entire process is conducted in an electric arc furnace.

This compound is widely utilized in the manufacture of calcium cyanamide and acetylene.

Properties of Calcium Carbide - CaC2

Uses of Calcium Carbide (CaC2)

• It is utilized in the production of calcium hydroxide and acetylene.
• It serves as a raw material for the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), being a derivative of acetylene.
• It is involved in the manufacture of calcium cyanamide.
• It helps in the desulfurization of iron, a process for removing sulfur from materials.
• Carbide lamps, which use calcium carbide, were historically utilized as headlights for automobiles.
• It functions as a ripening agent similar to ethylene.
• It is used in toy cannons such as bamboo cannons and big-bang cannons.
• CaC2 acts as a deoxidizer, aiding in the removal of oxygen during steel production.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the uses of calcium carbide?

Calcium carbide reacts with water to produce acetylene and calcium hydroxide. It can also yield calcium cyanamide when reacted with nitrogen at elevated temperatures. Additionally, it is used in the desulfurization of iron.

What is the role of calcium carbide in carbide lamps?

In carbide lamps, calcium carbide generates acetylene gas when water drips on it, which burns to emit light. These lamps were once common in early vehicles but have largely been replaced by electric lamps.

How is calcium carbide produced?

Calcium carbide is produced industrially from a mixture of lime and coke at around 2,200 °C in an electric arc furnace. Traditional combustion techniques cannot achieve the necessary high temperatures, making the electric arc furnace method essential.

For more insights on the structure, properties, and applications of Calcium Carbide (CaC2), refer to the expert resources at BYJU's.

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