CALCIUM CARBIDE 99% (Carbide, pure), kg

Parameter	Attribute
Calcium carbide	calcium percarbide, calcium carbide, calcium dicarbide, carbide
Formula	CaC2
Structure
IUPAC	Calcium ethynediide
INCI	-
CAS	75-20-7
Molar mass	64.099g/mol
Density	2.22g/cm3
Solubility	Hydrolyses first (reacts with water)

Calcium carbide, also known as calcium acetylide, is a chemical compound with the chemical formula CaC₂. Its main industrial uses are the production of acetylene and calcium cyanamide. The pure material is colorless, but technical grade calcium carbide lumps are grey or brown and consist of about 80-85% CaC₂, the remainder being CaO (calcium oxide), Ca₃P₂ (calcium phosphide), CaS (calcium sulfide), Ca₃N₂ (calcium nitride), SiC (silicon carbide) and others. When reacted with water, technical grade calcium carbide gives off an unpleasant odor reminiscent of garlic.

In industry is used the reaction of calcium carbide with water to produce acetylene and calcium hydroxide is used:

CaC₂ (s) + 2H₂O (l) → C₂H₂ (g) + Ca(OH)₂ (aq)

This reaction has been the basis for the industrial production of acetylene, both in the manufacture of synthetic polymers and as a key component in gaseous welding equipment.

In antique calcium carbide is used in carbide lamps. Water dripping on the carbide produces acetylene gas, which burns and emits light. Although these lamps gave off a more steady and brighter light than candles, they were dangerous in coal mines where flammable methane gas was a serious hazard. Carbide lamps were still widely used in slate, copper and tin mines, where methane was not a serious hazard. Carbide lamps are still used for mining in some less wealthy countries. Carbide lamps were also widely used as headlights in early cars, motorcycles and bicycles, but have been completely replaced by electric lamps.

In the food industry, calcium carbide is sometimes used as a source of acetylene, which, like ethylene gas, is a ripening agent. However, this is illegal in some countries because the production of acetylene from calcium carbide leads to phosphine and arsine contamination. These impurities can be removed by passing acetylene gas through an acidified copper sulphate solution.

In pyrotechnics, calcium carbide is used in toy cannons, such as the Big-Bang Cannon, as well as bamboo cannons. In the Netherlands, calcium carbide is used to shoot milk cubes during the New Year.

In horticulture calcium carbide is commercially marketed as a mole repellent for gardens and vegetable gardens. The most common recommendations are to fill in mole burrows, mole caves and fill in the ground in the evening. For a quicker effect, it can be applied with water, but if a longer lasting effect is desired, the carbide should be left under the ground only. Repeat the treatments for about 4-9 days until there are no more moles left in the garden or vegetable garden. Calcium carbide reacts with moisture to produce a gas with a pungent odor, which causes moles to leave the area.

In school experiments, calcium carbide is used to determine soil moisture. When soil and calcium carbide are mixed in a closed pressure cylinder, the water content of the soil reacts with the calcium carbide to produce acetylene, the pressure of which can be measured to determine the moisture content. It is also used in tests for the identification of saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons with potassium permanganate, when the passing ethine gas bleaches the potassium permanganate solution. In biological experiments it is used in ripening fruit tests.

In marine, calcium carbide is used with calcium phosphide in floating, self-igniting marine flares.

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