What is #"CaC"_1#?

1 Answer
Jun 27, 2014

CaC₁ is not a correct formula for any compound.

Carbon is in Group 14, so it has four valence electrons.

If a carbon atom added four electrons to get an octet, it would form the ion C⁴⁻. The ionic compound with Ca²⁺ would have the formula Ca₂C.

But we know that carbon forms covalent bonds, not ionic bonds.

The compound acetylene (ethyne, HC≡CH) forms the acetylide ion (⁻C≡C⁻). With Ca²⁺ it forms the ionic compound calcium carbide, CaC₂.

Hope this helps.