What is a Calcium carbide (CaC₂)?

Calcium carbide (CaC₂) is a gray or black solid that is industrially produced by reacting limestone (CaCO₃) and coke at high temperatures in an electric furnace, primarily known for its reaction with water to produce acetylene gas (C₂H₂), making it a historically important and widely used raw material for acetylene production, with additional applications in gas welding and cutting, carbide lamps, fertilizers, deoxidizers, and chemical intermediates, and due to its flammability at high temperatures and vigorous reaction with water, it must be handled in dry conditions with airtight containers and appropriate protective equipment to avoid irritation or injury, while its reactivity and role as a critical source of acetylene continue to make it a valuable inorganic compound, especially in developing regions.

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