Acetylene

Acetylene, a powerful illuminant gas, first made on a commercial scale in 1895, which is colourless, rather heavy, and has an unpleasant odour. It is the lowest and simplest compound of carbon and hydrogen, and is now obtained from carbide of calcium, procured by fusing lime with coal, coke, or other carbon in an electric furnace. This carbide, a gray, metallic-looking powder, yields acetylene when water is allowed to drip on it; the calcium taking the oxygen of the water to form lime again, whilst the carbon combines with the hydrogen. From acetylene, alcohol, paraffins, benzene, &c. can be obtained. It is explosive, and requires careful handling. See GAS-LIGHTING, p. 105.