Calcium carbide

Synonyms

Acetylenogen; Calcium acetylide (Ca(C2)); CaC2; Calcium dicarbide; Carbure de calcium [French]; Carburo calcico [Spanish]; Ethyne, calcium deriv.; UN1402; [ChemIDplus]

Category

Metals, Inorganic Compounds

Description

Grayish-black, irregular lumps or crystals with a garlic odor; [CHEMINFO]

Sources/Uses

Used to desulfurize steel and iron, to produce acetylene, to reduce copper sulfide to metallic copper, and to weld and cut metals; [HSDB]

Comments

Explosive hazard; Corrosive to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract; Inhalation can cause pulmonary edema; [ICSC] If left on clothes, may cause reddening of skin; [CHRIS] Forms flammable gas (acetylene) on exposure to moisture or water; [CHEMINFO] Carbides are one of the four binary salts that have specific hazards (nitrides, carbides, hydrides, and phosphides); Carbides give off acetylene, and a corrosive base is formed from contact with water. The corrosive base is the hydroxide of the metal that is attached to the carbon in the carbide compounds. On contact with water, calcium carbide produces acetylene and the corrosive calcium hydroxide. [Burke, p. 21]

Biomedical References

may ignite at ambient temp

Yes

Skin burns

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Gas Welding and Cutting
• Metal Preparation and Pouring
• Steel Producing