Calcium carbide making: did somebody try this ?

[skatebiker]

Lastly I made CaC2 from lime powder (CaO) and crushed BBQ charcoal. I heated it with an arc welder with carbon rods attached.

 

See the result on the site http://arcmelt.velp.info and click on the video of Nov 24.

 

Sometimes it succeeds sometimes not. I use a concrete brick to put the mixture in.

Did somebody try something similar ?

[Sensei]

In video you have (at 3-4 second)

 

CaO + 2C -> CaC2 + CO

 

It should be:

 

CaO + 3C -> CaC2 + CO

 

Otherwise quantity of elements won't match between left and right side of equation.

 

 

If you want to collect acetylene, put glass or test tube up side down in larger tank of water, suck out the all air from it, so it's full of water.

Then place carbide below it, and acetylene will start collecting in your glass/test tube.

Edited November 27, 2013 by Sensei