How does #"calcium carbide"#, #Ca^(2_+)C_2^(2-)# react with water?

1 Answer
anor277
Jan 17, 2017

#CaC_2(s) + 2H_2O(l) rarr HC-=CH(g)uarr + Ca(OH)_2(s)#

Explanation:

Now this is simply an acid base reaction, and in fact this reaction was the basis of the old miners' head lamp, where some crushed calcium carbide was moistened with a few drops of water, and the acetylene evolved was combusted:

#HC-=CH(g) + 5/2O_2(g) rarr 2CO_2(g) + H_2O(s)#

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