Calcium carbide

Description

Calcium carbide,is a binary salt. It is a grayish-black hard solid that reacts with water to produce acetylene gas, a solid corrosive that is calcium hydroxide, and release heat. Acetylene gas is manufactured by reacting calcium carbide with water. Because acetylene is so unstable, it is not shipped in bulk quantities.
Calcium carbide is shipped to acetylene-generating plants where it is reacted with water in a controlled reaction. After the reaction process, the acetylene gas is placed into specially designed containers with a honeycombed mesh inside for shipment and use. It is dissolved in acetone for stability. Calcium carbide has a specific gravity of 2.22, which is heavier than water. The four-digit UN identification number for calcium carbide is 1402. The NFPA 704 designation is health 3, flammability 3, and reactivity 2. The white section at the bottom of the diamond contains a W with a slash through it, indicating water reactivity. It is shipped in metal cans, drums, and specially designed covered bins on railcars and trucks. When shipped and stored, it should be kept in a cool, dry place. Primary uses are in the generation of acetylene gas for welding, vinyl acetate monomer, and as a reducing agent.

Chemical properties

grey or black solid with a garlic-like odour

Physical properties

Grayish-black orthorhombic crystal; density 2.22 g/cm³; melts at 2,200°C; reacts with water.

The Uses of Calcium carbide

Calcium carbide is the most relevant carbide industrially because of its important role as the basis of acetylene industry. In locations where there is shortage of petroleum, Calcium Carbide is used as the starting material for the production of acetylene (1 kg of carbide yields ~300 liters acetylene), which, in turn, can be used as a building block for a range of organic chemicals (e.g. vinyl acetate, acetaldehyde and acetic acid). In some locations, acetylene is also used to produce vinyl chloride, the raw material for the production of PVC.
A less important use of Calcium Carbide is related to the ferilizers industry. It reacts with nitrogen to form calcium cyanamide, which is the starting material for the production of cyanamide (CH2N2). Cyanamide is a common agricultural product used to stimulate early foliation.
Calcium Carbide can also be employed as desulfurizing agent for producing low-sulfur carbon steel. Also, it is used as a reducing agent to produce metals from their salts, e.g., for direct reduction of copper sulfide to metallic copper.

The Uses of Calcium carbide

Calcium carbide (CaC2) has a garlic-like odor and reacts with water to form acetylene gas plus calcium hydroxide and heat. In the past, it was used in miners’ lamps to continuously produce a small acetylene flame to provide some illumination in coal mines.

The Uses of Calcium carbide

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.

Preparation

Calcium carbide (CaC2) is manufactured by heating a lime and carbon mixture to 2000 to 2100°C (3632 to 3812°F) in an electric arc furnace. At those temperatures, the lime is reduced by carbon to calcium carbide and carbon monoxide (CO), according to the following reaction: CaO + 3C → CaC2 + CO
Lime for the reaction is usually made by calcining limestone in a kiln at the plant site. The sources of carbon for the reaction are petroleum coke, metallurgical coke, and anthracite coal. Because impurities in the furnace charge remain in the calcium carbide product, the lime should contain no more than 0.5 percent each of magnesium oxide, aluminum oxide, and iron oxide, and 0.004 percent phosphorus. Also, the coke charge should be low in ash and sulfur. Analyses indicate that 0.2 to 1.0 percent ash and 5 to 6 percent sulfur are typical in petroleum coke. About 991 kilograms (kg) (2,185 pounds [lb]) of lime, 683 kg (1,506 lb) of coke, and 17 to 20 kg (37 to 44 lb) of electrode paste are required to produce 1 megagram (Mg) (2,205 lb) of calcium carbide.

Reactions

Calcium carbide is grayish-black solid, reacts with water yielding acetylene gas and calcium hydroxide, formed at electric furnace temperature from calcium oxide and carbon.

General Description

Grayish-black irregular lump solid. Used to make acetylene and in steel manufacture.

Air & Water Reactions

Reacts rapidly with water to generate the flammable gas acetylene and the base calcium hydroxide. Enough heat may be generated to ignite the gas [Jones, G.W. BM Report Invest. 3755 1944].

Reactivity Profile

Calcium carbide is a reducing agent. May react vigorously with oxidizing materials. The powdered mixture of the acetylide and iron oxide and iron chloride burns violently upon ignition, producing molten iron. Calcium carbide incandesces with chlorine, bromine, or iodine at 245, 350, or 305°C., respectively, [Mellor, 1946, Vol. 5, 862]. The carbide burns incandescently when mixed and heated with lead difluoride, magnesium, hydrogen chloride, and tin (II) chloride, [Mellor, 1946, 1940, 1946, and 1941], respectively. Interaction of Calcium carbide with methanol to give calcium methoxide is vigorous , but subject to an induction period of variable length. Once reaction starts, evolution of acetylene gas is very rapid, unpublished observations [Bretherick 1995]. Mixing Calcium carbide with silver nitrate solutions forms silver acetylide, a highly sensitive explosive. Copper salt solutions would behave similarly, [Photogr. Sci. Eng., 1966, 10, 334]. The mixture of Calcium carbide and sodium peroxide is explosive, as is Calcium carbide and perchloryl fluoride as gases at 100-300°C.

Hazard

Forms flammable and explosive gas and corrosive solid with moisture.

Health Hazard

It is a corrosive solid. Because it is highlywater-reactive, skin contact can cause burn.

Fire Hazard

Behavior in Fire: If wet by water, highly flammable acetylene gas is formed.

Safety Profile

Reaction on contact with moisture forms explosive acetylene gas. Flammable on contact with moisture, acid or acid fumes; evolves heat or flammable vapors. Moderate explosion hazard. Incandescent reaction with Cl2 (245℃), Brz (350℃), IS (305℃), HCl gas + heat, PbF2, Mg + heat. Incompatible with Se, (KOH + Ch), AgNO3, Na2O2, SnCl2, S, water. Mixtures with iron(IⅡ) chloride, iron(IⅡ) oxide, tin(Ⅱ) chloride are easily ignited and burn fiercely. Vigorous reaction with methanol after an induction period. Addttion to silver nitrate solutions precipitates the dangerously explosive silver acetylide. Copper salt solutions behave similarly. See also CALCIUM HYDROXIDE and ACETYLENE.

Potential Exposure

Those involved in the manufacture andhandling of carbide and the generation of acetylene.

First aid

If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove anycontact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least15 min, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seekmedical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts theskin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediatelywith soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately. Ifthis chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure,begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR ifheart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medicalfacility. When this chemical has been swallowed, get medical attention. Give large quantities of water and inducevomiting. Do not make an unconscious person vomit.Medical observation is recommended for 24-48 h afterbreathing overexposure, as pulmonary edema may bedelayed. As first aid for pulmonary edema, a doctor orauthorized paramedic may consider administering a corticosteroid spray.

storage

Color Code—Red Stripe: Flammability Hazard:Do not store in the same area as other flammable materials.Color Code—Green: General storage may be used. Prior toworking with calcium carbide you should be trained on itsproper handling and storage. Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area away from moisture andwithout sprinkler protection and avoid contact with incompatible materials. Use only nonsparking tools and equipment especially when opening and closing containers ofcalcium carbide. Metal containers involving the transfer ofthis chemical should be grounded and bonded. Use explosion-proof electrical equipment in the carbide-handlingarea. Sources of ignition, such as smoking and open flames,are prohibited where this chemical is used, handled, orstored in a manner that could create a potential fireor explosion hazard.

Shipping

Calcium carbide requires a “DANGEROUSWHEN WET” label. It falls in Hazard Class 4.3 andPacking Groups I or II.

Incompatibilities

Water contact or moist air forms calciumhydroxide and explosive acetylene gas with risk of fire andexplosion. Keep away from acids, oxidizers, hydrogenchloride, methanol, copper salt solutions, lead fluoride,magnesium, selenium, silver nitrate, iron trichloride, tindichloride, sodium peroxide, stannous chloride, sulfur.