Lithium carbide

Lithium carbide

Names
Preferred IUPAC name Lithium acetylide
Systematic IUPAC name Lithium ethynediide
Other names Dilithium acetylide Lithium dicarbon Lithium percarbide
Identifiers
CAS Number	1070-75-3 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	59503 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.012.710
EC Number	213-980-1
PubChem CID	66115
UNII	GZ7TQ3WG5P Y
InChI InChI=1S/C2.2Li/c1-2;;/q-2;2*+1 Y Key: ARNWQMJQALNBBV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y InChI=1S/C2.2Li/c1-2;;/q-2;2*+1 Key: ARNWQMJQALNBBV-UHFFFAOYSA-N InChI=1/C2.2Li/c1-2;;/q-2;2*+1 Key: ARNWQMJQALNBBV-UHFFFAOYAB
SMILES [Li+].[Li+].[C-]#[C-]
Properties
Chemical formula	Li2C2
Molar mass	37.9034 g/mol
Appearance	Powder
Density	1.3 g/cm3[1]
Melting point	452°C[2]
Solubility in water	Reacts
Solubility	insoluble in organic solvents
Related compounds
Related compounds	Tetralithiomethane Monolithium acetylide Monosodium acetylide Copper(I) acetylide Silver acetylide Calcium carbide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). N verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

Lithium carbide, Li₂C₂, often known as dilithium acetylide, is a chemical compound of lithium and carbon, an acetylide. It is an intermediate compound produced during radiocarbon dating procedures. Li₂C₂ is one of an extensive range of lithium-carbon compounds which include the lithium-rich Li₄C, Li₆C₂, Li₈C₃, Li₆C₃, Li₄C₃, Li₄C₅, and the graphite intercalation compounds LiC₆, LiC₁₂, and LiC₁₈.

Li₂C₂ is the most thermodynamically-stable lithium-rich carbide^[3] and the only one that can be obtained directly from the elements. It was first produced by Moissan, in 1896^[4] who reacted coal with lithium carbonate.

Li₂CO₃ + 4 C → Li₂C₂ + 3 CO

The other lithium-rich compounds are produced by reacting lithium vapor with chlorinated hydrocarbons, e.g. CCl₄. Lithium carbide is sometimes confused with the drug lithium carbonate, Li₂CO₃, because of the similarity of its name.