Wiktionary
n. (context inorganic compound English) A black, solid, of formula CaC2, manufactured from lime and carbon at high temperatures; reacts with water to form acetylene.
WordNet
n. a gray salt of calcium (CaC) used in making acetylene
Wikipedia
Calcium carbide is a chemical compound with the chemical formula of Ca C. Its main use industrially is in the production of acetylene and calcium cyanamide.
The pure material is colorless, however pieces of technical-grade calcium carbide are grey or brown and consist of about 80–85% of CaC (the rest is CaO ( calcium oxide), CaP ( calcium phosphide), CaS ( calcium sulfide), CaN ( calcium nitride), SiC ( silicon carbide), etc.). In the presence of trace moisture, technical-grade calcium carbide emits an unpleasant odor reminiscent of garlic.
Applications of calcium carbide include manufacture of acetylene gas, and for generation of acetylene in carbide lamps; manufacture of chemicals for fertilizer; and in steelmaking.
Usage examples of "calcium carbide".
So the wagons in which people no longer had to ride to sleep were stocked full of hay and grain for the horses and elephant, smoked meats for the lion, staple groceries for the humans, canisters of calcium carbide for the limelights, coils of rope, cans of paint and tar and coal oil and axle grease, harness and horseshoes and miscellaneous hardware, fabrics and thread and sequins for the wardrobe.
The scraper could not possibly get at the core of the trouble-which was not the calcium carbide dust, with which the atmosphere was charged beyond redemption, but was instead one imbedded speck of metallic sodium which was taking no part in the reaction-fast enough to extirpate it.
The scraper could not possibly get at the core of the troublewhich was not the calcium carbide dust, with which the atmosphere was charged beyond redemption, but was instead one imbedded speck of metallic sodium which was taking no part in the reactionfast enough to extirpate it.
Like calcium carbide and many other chemicals, contact with water made a really raging, dangerous substance of it.
In time, when kilns and arcs capable of the work came online, calcium carbide and acetylene could be used.