Question

Calcium carbide crystallizes as a cube with 1 calcium ion on each corner and one calcium ion in the center of the cell. There are 8 carbon atoms located along edges of the cell and there are two carbons internal to the cell. What is the formula of calcium carbide?

Answer 1

`CaC_2`

Step-by-step explanation:

Given that:-

1 calcium ion is at each corner. Also, 1 corner of the unit cell is shared by 8 unit cubes. So, the share of a tom in one unit cell is:-
`(1)/(8)`

Also, there are 8 corners in one unit cell.

So, Total number of atoms at corners =
`(1)/(8)* 8` = 1

Number of calcium atoms in the unit cell = 1

Also, given that there are two carbons which are present internally in the unit cell, So,

Number of carbon atoms in the unit cell = 2

Hence, the formula of the calcium carbide is:-
`CaC_2`