Home Categories Inorganic chemistry Calcium carbide
A2989312

Calcium carbide , 72-82%, particle size ≤ 40mm , 75-20-7

CAS NO.:75-20-7

Empirical Formula: C2Ca

Molecular Weight: 64.1

MDL number: MFCD00010905

EINECS: 200-848-3

Update time: 2022-07-08

PRODUCT Properties

Melting point: 447°C
Boiling point: 2300°C
Density  2.22 g/mL at 25 °C(lit.)
storage temp.  water-free area
solubility  reacts with H2O
form  pieces
Specific Gravity 2.22
color  Gray-black
Water Solubility  hydrolyses
Sensitive  Moisture Sensitive
Merck  14,1656
BRN  3909011
Dielectric constant 5.8 - 7.0(0.0℃)
Exposure limits ACGIH: TWA 2 mg/m3
OSHA: TWA 5 mg/m3
NIOSH: IDLH 25 mg/m3; TWA 2 mg/m3
Stability: Stability Reacts violently with water liberating highly flammable gas (acetylene). Do not use water if this material is involved in a fire. Incompatible with moisture, water, strong oxidizing agents, alcohols, hydrogen chloride, magnesium.
InChIKey UIXRSLJINYRGFQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
EPA Substance Registry System Calcium carbide (75-20-7)

Description and Uses

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.

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.

Safety

Symbol(GHS) 
GHS02,GHS05,GHS07
Signal word  Danger
Hazard statements  H260-H315-H318-H335
Precautionary statements  P223-P231+P232-P261-P280-P302+P352-P305+P351+P338
Hazard Codes  F
Risk Statements  15-41-37/38
Safety Statements  8-43-43A-39-26
RIDADR  UN 1402 4.3/PG 2
WGK Germany  1
10-21
TSCA  Yes
HazardClass  4.3
PackingGroup  II
HS Code  28491000
Hazardous Substances Data 75-20-7(Hazardous Substances Data)

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