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Calcium carbide combines with water to formAcetylene and Calcium Hydroxide.1CaC2 + 2 H2O ==== 1C2H2 + 1 Ca(OH)2

Acetylene is a very good fuel and gives offa lot of heat.Normal burning in air however producesa lot of soot and a very yellow flame.

Acetylene burningat the end of a test tube with water in it.

Evidence of incompletecombustion

Bright yellowflame…incandescent soot particles

Soot

A clean burning flame with adequate oxygen

Not much soot but still inadequate oxygen

Incandescent soot particles glow and make the flame yellow

Oxygen tube

Acetylene tube

Gases are mixed here

Just a seal for a 2hole stopper

Oxygen tank and regulator is expensivebut can be used oftenin class and is worththe cost.

An old iron screen works well as thetarget of the ACETYLENE TORCH!

Observe the next picture and see if you can tell why one setup is safer to use than the other.

Boom?

Students should “standback” from the otherside of the screen.

Click on picture to start movie; click here to stop