Carbide Lamp
Description: An antique carbide lamp is filled with calcium carbide and water in two different chambers. When water is dripped into the calcium carbide chamber, acetylene is produced, and the lamp is lit. The flame size is regulated by the amount of water flowing into the chamber.
Source: UW Card Catalog
Year: N/A Vol: N/A Page: N/A
Keywords: Calcium carbide, Water, Acetylene, Lamp, Combustion
Ratings: 
Hazard: Some
- Flammability hazard
- Serious eye damage
- Skin irritation
- Respiratory toxicity hazard
- Solids that produce flammable gases when wet
- Short-term aquatic toxicity hazard
- Explosion hazard
Effectiveness: Good
- Good connection from demo to course material
- Results are clearly observable with guidance
- Moderate failure rate
- Mild effects are seen by audience
- Time to results is low
Difficulty: Medium
- Some concerted manipulations required
- Prior training recommended
- Simple procedures
- Demos in which toxic or explosive reagents are in use
Safety Precautions:
- Eye protection required
- Gloves required
- ABC fire extinguisher on hand
- Perform in a well-ventilated area
- No flammable materials near demo
- Prevent release of reagent to the environment
Class: Organic Chemistry, Alkyne Chemistry, Combustion
Division: General
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