Calcium Carbide
a chemical compound of calcium and carbon, symbol CaC2. It is a hard, bluish-black, clear crystalline body, and is impervious to light, insoluble in all known solvents, and with a sp. gr. of 2.22. Although calcium carbide has been known for many years, it did not come into prominence until 1894, when Moissan produced it by heating 120 grains of oxide of calcium and 70 grains of sugar charcoal in an electric furnace. The furnace CALCULATING MACHINE was heated to 3,500° C. by an electrical current of 350 amperes and 70 volts for 20 minutes. This produced about 150 grains of carbide. Dry carbide is not affected by heat in an ordinary atmosphere, but when heated in an excess of oxygen it burns and forms calcium carbonate. When exposed to damp air for a short time it disintegrates and gives off a peculiar odor resembling garlic.
When calcium carbide comes in contact with water, ACETYLENE GAS (q. v.) is produced and calcium hydroxide thrown down It is used generally for the production of acetylene and the reduction of iron.