Calcium carbide.

In chemistry, Carbide may refer to three different things: Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1208x1040, 325 KB) Picture taken by myself: Carbide; Calciumcarbide File links The following pages link to this file: Carbide ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1208x1040, 325 KB) Picture taken by myself: Carbide; Calciumcarbide File links The following pages link to this file: Carbide ... Chemistry (from Greek χημεία khemeia[1] meaning alchemy) is the science of matter at the atomic to molecular scale, dealing primarily with collections of atoms, such as molecules, crystals, and metals. ...

1. The polyatomic ion C₂²⁻, or any salt of such. There is a triple bond between the two carbon atoms. A polyatomic ion is an ion consisting of a molecule with covalently bonded atoms or of a metal complex that can be considered as acting as a single unit in the context of acid/base chemistry or in the formation of salts. ... Covalent bonding is a description of chemical bonding that is characterized by the sharing of one or more electrons between two atoms. ...

2. The monatomic ion C⁴⁻, or any salt of such. This ion is a very strong base, and will combine with four protons to form methane: C⁴⁻ + 4H⁺ → CH₄. A monatomic ion is an ion consisting of a single atom. ... // For alternative meanings see proton (disambiguation). ... Methane is a significant and plentiful fuel which is the principal component of natural gas. ...

3. A carbon-containing alloy or doping of a metal or semiconductor, for example, steel. The old steel cable of a colliery winding tower Steel is a metal alloy whose major component is iron, with carbon content between 0. ...

Examples

• Sodium carbide (Na₂C₂)
• Silicon carbide (SiC)
• Tungsten carbide (often called simply carbide)
• Cementite (iron carbide; Fe₃C)

See Category:Carbides for a bigger list. Silicon carbide (SiC) is a ceramic compound of silicon and carbon. ... Tungsten carbide, WC, or W2C, is a chemical compound containing tungsten and carbon, similar to titanium carbide. ... Cementite or iron carbide is a chemical compound with the formula Fe3C, and an orthorhombic crystal structure. ...

Types of carbides

Methides

A salt corresponding to the ion C⁴⁻ can be called a methide. Methides commonly react with water to form methane, however reactions with other substances are common. Methane is a significant and plentiful fuel which is the principal component of natural gas. ...

Acetylides

A salt corresponding to the ion C₂²⁻ can be called an acetylide. Acetylides commonly react with water to form acetylene. An acetylide ion is an alkyne that has had a proton (hydrogen) removed from the terminal end. ... Acetylene (IUPAC name: ethyne) is the simplest alkyne hydrocarbon, consisting of two hydrogen atoms and two carbon atoms connected by a triple bond. ...

Compounds that do not fit usual notions of valence or stoichiometry

Interstitial carbides

These are formed with metals; they often have metallic properties.

Some covalent compounds

Elements that have similar electronegativity form mainly covalent compounds. For example, the compound silicon carbide is mostly covalent; it has similar structure to diamond. The electronegativities on this page are incorrect and need to be updated Electronegativity is a measure of the ability of an atom or molecule to attract electrons in the context of a chemical bond. ... Silicon carbide (SiC) is a ceramic compound of silicon and carbon. ... // A scattering of round-brilliant cut diamonds shows off the many reflecting facets. ...

Properties

Under conditions of standard temperature and pressure, metal carbides react strongly with water to form metal oxides or hydroxides and flammable acetylene gas, e.g.: Temperature and air pressure can vary from one place to another on the Earth, and can also vary in the same place with time. ... Hot metal work from a blacksmith In chemistry, a metal (Greek: Metallon) is an element that readily forms positive ions (cations) and has metallic bonds. ... Water is a chemical substance that is essential to all known forms of life. ... An oxide is a chemical compound of oxygen with other chemical elements. ... Hydroxide is a polyatomic ion consisting of oxygen and hydrogen: OH− It has a charge of −1. ... Acetylene (IUPAC name: ethyne) is the simplest alkyne hydrocarbon, consisting of two hydrogen atoms and two carbon atoms connected by a triple bond. ...

CaC₂ + 2H₂O → C₂H₂ + Ca(OH)₂

Carbide lamps, an important source of portable subterranean illumination for mining and caving, and in the past for lighthouse lamps, work through on-demand production and combustion of acetylene by the metered addition of water to calcium carbide. Carbide lamps (acetylene lamps) are simple lamps that produce and burn acetylene by reacting calcium carbide with water. ... Lighting refers to either artificial light sources such as lamps or to natural illumination of interiors from daylight. ... This article is about mineral extraction. ... Inside the cave at Cave Stream, New Zealand Caving is the recreational sport of exploring caves. ... The Peggys Point lighthouse in Nova Scotia, Canada An aid for navigation and pilotage at sea, a lighthouse is a tower building or framework sending out light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire. ... Combustion or burning is a complex sequence of chemical reactions between a fuel and an oxidant accompanied by the production of heat or both heat and light in the form of either a glow or flames. ... Acetylene (IUPAC name: ethyne) is the simplest alkyne hydrocarbon, consisting of two hydrogen atoms and two carbon atoms connected by a triple bond. ... Water is a chemical substance that is essential to all known forms of life. ...

Gas lighting, using acetylene gas generated from carbide, was used in some homes before the incandescent lamp came into widespread use. It was also the main source of lighting on bicycles and carriages before the widespread availability of electric lamps and batteries. The carbide was prepared industrially by the action of an electric arc furnace on a mixture of coke and limestone. Gas lighting is the process of burning piped natural gas or coal gas for illumination. ... The incandescent light bulb uses a glowing wire filament heated to white-hot by electrical resistance, to generate light (a process known as thermal radiation). ... This article is becoming very long. ... An electric arc furnace is a system that heats the charged material by means of an electric arc. ... Coke is a solid carbonaceous residue derived from low-ash, low-sulfur bituminous coal. ... Limey shale overlaid by limestone. ...

In the northern, eastern and southern regions of the Netherlands and in Belgium carbide is used as fireworks. To create an explosion, carbide and water are put in a milk churn with a lid. Ignition is usually done with a torch. Some villages in the Netherlands fire multiple milk churns in a row as an oldyear tradition. The old tradition comes from the old pagan religion to chase off spirits. Pagan may refer to: A believer in Paganism or Neopaganism Bagan, a city in Myanmar also known as Pagan Pagan (album), the 6th album by Celtic metal band Cruachan Pagan Island, of the Northern Mariana Islands Pagan Lorn, a metal band from Luxembourg, Europe (1994-1998) Pagans Mind, is...

External links

• a good discussion on Carbide structures
• how to make Calcium Carbide using an arc welder