Any compound of carbon, especially those in which carbon is ionic. It is often used specifically for calcium carbide, CaC2, a salt of acetylene, which may be regenerated by the addition of water: CaC2 + 2H2O?Ca(OH)2 + C2H2.
In chemistry, Carbide may refer to three different things:
1.
Examples
Sodium carbide (Na2C2) Silicon carbide (SiC) Tungsten carbide (often called simply carbide) Cementite (iron carbide;Types of carbides
Methides
A salt corresponding to the ion C4− can be called a methide.
Acetylides
A salt corresponding to the ion C22− can be called an acetylide.
Compounds that do not fit usual notions of valence or stoichiometry
Interstitial carbides
These are formed with metals;
Some covalent compounds
Elements that have similar electronegativity form mainly covalent compounds.
Properties
Under conditions of standard temperature and pressure, metal carbides react strongly with water to form metal oxides or hydroxides and flammable acetylene gas, e.g.:
CaC2 + 2H2O → C2H2 + Ca(OH)2Carbide lamps, an important source of portable subterranean illumination for mining and caving, and in the past for lighthouse lamps, work through on-demand production and combustion of acetylene by the metered addition of water to calcium carbide.
Gas lighting, using acetylene gas generated from carbide, was used in some homes before the incandescent lamp came into widespread use.
In the northern, eastern and southern regions of the Netherlands and in Belgium carbide is used as fireworks.
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