Characteristic

Calcium carbide, also known as calcium acetylide, is a chemical compound with the chemical formula of CaC₂. Its main use industrially is in the production of acetylene and calcium cyanamide.

Chemical formula：CaC₂

Molar mass：64.099 g/mol

Appearance：White powder to grey/black crystals

Density：2.22 g/cm³

Melting point：2,160 °C (3,920 °F; 2,430 K)

Boiling point：2,300 °C (4,170 °F; 2,570 K)

Solubility in water：Rapid hydrolysis

Crystal structure：Tetragonal

Application

Calcium carbide is used as a desulfurizer, dehydrant of steel, fuel in steel making, powerful deoxidizer and as a source of acetylene gas. It is used as a starting material for the preparation of calcium cyanamide, ethylene, chloroprene rubber, acetic acid, dicyandiamide and cyanide acetate. It is used in carbide lamps, toy cannons such as the big-bang cannon and bamboo cannon. It is associated with calcium phosphide and used in floating, self-igniting naval signal flares. Further, it is involved in the reduction of copper sulfide to metallic copper.

 

Calcium Carbide-MSDS.pdf