Preparing ethyne on a microscale

A plastic model of a molecule of ethyne, with two carbon atoms in black and two hydrogen atoms in white

Source: © Shutterstock

Generate ethyne gas with calcium carbide and test its properties in this microscale class practical. Includes kit list and safety instructions.

In this experiment, students produce ethyne or acetylene gas inside a plastic Petri dish by reacting calcium carbide and water. The gas is tested using a solution of potassium manganate(VII) in propanone, which turns from purple to brown. When the reaction has finished, students test the residue of the calcium carbide with a drop of full-range indicator solution.

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