What is the reaction of calcium carbide with water?

Author: Liang

Oct. 24, 2025

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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.


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