Login

Your Name:(required)

Your Password:(required)

Join Us

Your Name:(required)

Your Email:(required)

Your Message :

0/2000

Your Position: Home - Cemented Carbide - What is the reaction of calcium carbide with water?

What is the reaction of calcium carbide with water?

Author: Liang

Oct. 24, 2025


 

https://www.cn-cac2.com/Products_details/4.html

Calcium carbide reacts with water to yield acetylene gas and calcium hydroxide. The balanced equation:

 

CaC2(s)+2H2O(l)→C2H2(g)+Ca(OH)2(aq)

 

Notes and important points

 

Reaction character: vigorous and exothermic; produces a flammable gas (acetylene).

 

Hazards: acetylene is highly flammable and can form explosive mixtures with air. Commercial calcium carbide often contains small amounts of calcium phosphide; contact with water can then also produce phosphine (PH₃), a toxic, foul-smelling gas. Use outdoors or in well-ventilated, controlled equipment.

 

Uses: historically used to generate acetylene for lighting and for oxy-acetylene welding/cutting (gas generators).

 

Practical control: acetylene is normally generated slowly in a gas generator (controlled addition of water) rather than dumping water on carbide.

 

If you want, I can show stoichiometric / mass calculations (e.g., how much CaC₂ is needed to produce X liters of acetylene at STP) or safety steps for laboratory use.


12

0

Comments

0/2000

All Comments (0)

Guest Posts

If you are interested in sending in a Guest Blogger Submission,welcome to write for us!

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Subject

Your Message (required)

0/2000