How to prepare acetylene from calcium carbonate in series of reaction

To prepare acetylene from calcium carbonate, we can break down the process into a series of chemical reactions that involve thermal decomposition and subsequent reactions with carbon. Let's walk through these steps together.

Step 1: Decomposition of Calcium Carbonate

The first reaction involves heating calcium carbonate (CaCO3). When you heat it, it undergoes thermal decomposition, breaking down into calcium oxide (CaO) and carbon dioxide (CO2). This reaction can be represented as:

• CaCO3 (s) → CaO (s) + CO2 (g)

This reaction is important because it produces calcium oxide, which will be used in the next step. The carbon dioxide released is a byproduct that can be collected or allowed to escape into the atmosphere.

Step 2: Reaction of Calcium Oxide with Carbon

The next step involves the reaction of the calcium oxide produced in the first step with carbon (often in the form of charcoal). When calcium oxide reacts with carbon at high temperatures, it forms calcium carbide (CaC2) and carbon monoxide (CO). The reaction can be summarized as follows:

• CaO (s) + 3C (s) → CaC2 (s) + CO (g)

In this step, the carbon serves as a reducing agent, facilitating the transformation of calcium oxide into calcium carbide.

Step 3: Hydrolysis of Calcium Carbide

The final step is the hydrolysis of calcium carbide to produce acetylene (C2H2). When calcium carbide reacts with water, it yields acetylene gas and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2). This reaction is expressed as:

• CaC2 (s) + 2H2O (l) → C2H2 (g) + Ca(OH)2 (s)

In this reaction, water acts as a reactant that breaks down the calcium carbide to release acetylene, which is the desired product.

Summary of the Process

To summarize, here are the steps we followed:

1. Heat calcium carbonate to produce calcium oxide and carbon dioxide.
2. React calcium oxide with carbon to create calcium carbide and carbon monoxide.
3. Hydrolyze calcium carbide with water to generate acetylene and calcium hydroxide.

This method is a classic way to produce acetylene, which is widely used in welding and as a building block for various organic compounds. Each step is crucial, and the reactions must be carried out with attention to temperature and the purity of reactants to maximize yield. If you have any further questions about the reactions or want to explore applications of acetylene, just let me know!