Barium carbide
{{short description|Chemical compound}}
{{Chembox
| Name = Barium carbide
| ImageFile = Barium_carbide_formula.png
| OtherNames = Barium acetylide
| IUPACName = Barium ethynediide
| SystematicName =
| Section1 = {{Chembox Identifiers
| CASNo = 50813-65-5
| EINECS = 235-126-7
| ChemSpiderID = 13785937
| InChI=1S/C2.Ba/c1-2;/q-2;+2
| InChIKey = DNQAUNUUVGPFFU-UHFFFAOYSA-N
| SMILES = [C-]#[C-].[Ba+2]
}}
| Section2 = {{Chembox Properties
| Formula = {{chem2|BaC2}}
| Ba=1|C=2
| Appearance = black crystalline solid
| Density = 3.75 g/cm3
}}
| Section3 =
| Section4 =
| Section5 =
| Section6 = {{Chembox Related
| OtherCations = {{ubl|Calcium carbide|Strontium carbide}}
}}
}}
Barium carbide (also referred to as barium ethynediide or barium acetylide){{cite web |title=Barium acetylide {{!}} C2Ba {{!}} ChemSpider |website=chemspider.com |url=https://www.chemspider.com/Chemical-Structure.13785937.html |access-date=2019-12-17}} is a chemical compound in the carbide family having the chemical formula {{chem2|BaC2|auto=1}}.{{cite web |title=Barium Carbide |website=American Elements |url=https://www.americanelements.com/barium-carbide-50813-65-5 |access-date=2019-12-11}} It consists of barium cations {{chem2|Ba(2+)}} and acetylide anions {{chem2|-C\tC-}}.
Preparation
Barium carbide can be synthesized as an impure compound by reducing barium carbonate powder with metallic magnesium in the presence of carbon.{{cite web |last1=Mishin |first1=V. I. |last2=Georgievskij |first2=S. S. |last3=Eksel' |first3=L. M. |last4=Koval' |first4=A. I. |last5=Afanas'eva |first5=L. A. |last6=Puchkov |first6=L. D. |last7=Ulybin |first7= V. B. |title=Method for preparation of barium carbide labelled by carbon 14 |language=ru |date=1989-12-07 |url=https://inis.iaea.org/Search/search.aspx?orig_q=RN:22022002}} Barium carbide can also be made by reducing carbon dioxide with hot barium metal at 600°C.{{cite journal |last1=Arrol |first1=W. J. |last2=Glascock |first2=R. |title=308. The conversion of carbon dioxide into acetylene on the scale of 2—20 micromoles |journal=J. Chem. Soc. |volume=3 |pages=1534–1537 |pmid=18101450 |doi=10.1039/JR9480001534 |date=1948}} These methods are used because of their high yield, and because the carbide is used to make acetylene. It can also be prepared by heating a barium amalgam and carbon powder mixture in a hydrogen current. The pure compound is prepared by reducing barium oxide with carbon at high temperature.{{cite web |title=Barium Carbide, BaC2 |website=barium.atomistry.com |url=http://barium.atomistry.com/barium_carbide.html |access-date=2019-12-11}}
Properties
Barium carbide reacts similarly to calcium carbide,{{cite web |title=Carbide |website=InfoPlease |url=https://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/science/chemistry/elements/carbide |access-date=2019-12-11}} but it's more fusible. When exposed to extreme heat, the barium will evaporate leaving behind crystals of graphite. It can also absorb the carbon in a solution at high temperature.
Hazards
Barium carbide can cause damage to the GI tract and irritation in the skin and eyes.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Carbides}}
{{Barium compounds}}
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