JCE Software Chemistry Comes Alive!
CCA! Volume 5   Home > Acetylene > 


 Home

 Table of Contents

 Keyword Index

 Textbook X-ref

 Search

Topic/Keyword
 Help
 About CCA!
Preparation and Combustion of Acetylene

Calcium carbide is added to water. This produces acetylene gas, which is then ignited.
  Click a thumbnail picture below to view a larger version. View movie.
View Movie		  

Narrative
Calcium carbide lumps are dropped into a beaker of water. Bubbles of flammable acetylene gas are produced.

Discussion
Calcium carbide lumps are dropped into a beaker of water and bubbles of acetylene gas are produced. A flame from a match held above the beaker ignites the acetylene producing a sooty flame.


       

2C2H2(g) + 5O2(g) ---> 4CO2(g) + 2H2O(g)
Because the flame is sooty, the second equation does not tell the whole story of the combustion of acetylene under these conditions.
Copyright © 2001 Division of Chemical Education, Inc., American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.