Final answer:
Calcium carbide is a chemical reagent that reacts with water to produce acetylene gas and calcium hydroxide. The reaction is exothermic, involving the release of heat.
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on the reaction of calcium carbide with water to produce acetylene, calcium carbide can be considered a chemical reagent used in the generation of acetylene gas.
When calcium carbide (CaC2) reacts with water (H2O), it forms calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) and acetylene gas (C2H2) in the following chemical reaction:
CaC2 (s) + 2H2O (l) → Ca(OH)2 (s) + C2H2 (g)
This reaction is exothermic, releasing heat and producing acetylene gas, which can be used for lighting or as a fuel source in certain applications.
The standard enthalpy change of the reaction can be calculated if the enthalpies of formation of the reactants and products are known.