Chemistry- Mr. Bulger
Name________________________________Date_____________Per___
Calcium Carbide and Water- “Creating Covalent Compounds and an Introduction to Reactions”
1. Add roughly 75 mL of cold tap water to a 150 mL beaker.
2. Get a box of matches or a lighter and a wooden splint.
3. Use a pair of forceps to obtain a single chunk of calcium carbide.
4. Light the splint with the match or lighter, and then drop the chunk of calcium carbide into the beaker.
5. See if you can ignite the bubbles of gas as they escape from the water.
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Questions:
The first chemical reaction that occurs in this experiment is listed below.
Equation #1:
Calcium carbide reacts with water to produce calcium hydroxide and dicarbon dihydride
Equation #2 (same as equation #1, but uses formulas instead of words):
CaC2 +
water 
calcium hydroxide + C2H2
1. Write and balance this chemical equation in the space below.
2. Quickly research/look up types of chemical reactions to answer this question- there are 5 major classes
(synthesis, decomposition, single replacement, double replacement, or combustion). Classify this chemical
reaction according to its type in the space below.
Then the C2H2 is ignited with the burning splint. This causes the flammable gas to react with oxygen in the air.
The second chemical reaction that occurs is:
Equation #3
C2H2
+
O2
---------->
CO2
+
H2O
3. Balance the above equation by adding the proper coefficients in front of each chemical.
4. Quickly research/look up types of chemical reactions- there are 5 major classes. Classify this chemical
reaction according to its type. (synthesis, decomposition, single replacement, double replacement, or
combustion)
5. Heat was released as the second chemical reaction occurred. Was this an endothermic or an exothermic
process? Explain why you selected your answer.
6. Draw the Lewis Structures for each of the following compounds:
C2H2
O2
CO2
H2O
Calcium hydroxide (not covalent, but try)
Experiment #5: Calcium Carbide and Water
1. Add roughly 75 mL of cold tap water to a 150 mL beaker.
2. Get a box of matches and a wooden splint.
3. Use a pair of forceps to obtain a single chunk of calcium carbide.
4. Light the wooden splint with the match, and then drop the chunk of calcium carbide into the beaker.
5. Ignite the bubbles of gas as they escape from the water.
Questions:
The first chemical reaction that occurs in this experiment is listed below.
Equation #1: CaC2 +
water ---------->
calcium hydroxide + C2H2
1. Write and balance this chemical equation.
2. Classify this chemical reaction according to its type. (synthesis, decomposition, single replacement, double
replacement, or combustion)
Then the C2H2 is ignited with the burning splint. This causes the flammable gas to react with oxygen in the air.
The second chemical reaction that occurs is:
Equation #2 C2H2
+
O2
---------->
CO2
+
H2O
3. Balance the above equation.
4. Classify this chemical reaction according to its type. (synthesis, decomposition, single replacement, double
replacement, or combustion)
5. Heat was released as the second chemical reaction occurred. Was this an endothermic or an exothermic
process? Explain.
6. Draw the Lewis Structures for each of the following compounds:
C2H2
CO2
O2
H2O