Acetylene. 85 



ACETYLENE, THE NEW ILLUMINANT. 



By Henry S. Marsh, A.I.C., 



Assistant Chemist, Central Experimental Farm. 



The value of Acetylene as an illuminating gas is perhaps one of 

 the most importantquestions amongst the manyat present being discussed 

 by those concerned in the lighting of our houses and thoroughfares. 



The preparation of Acetylene gas by the action of water on the 

 " carbides" has been known for some fifty years, but probably owing to 

 our ignorance of the valuable properties of this gas, or the difficulty in 

 obtaining it pure and in quantity, Acetylene as an illuminant was 

 practically unnoticed until 1892. In that year, Maquenne pre- 

 pared it by heating together, at a high temperature, barium 

 carbonate, magnesium and charcoal ; the resulting product 

 when treated with water yielding the gas Acetylene. In 1893, Travers 

 obtained Acetylene from calcium carbide, prepared by strongly heat- 

 ing together calcium chloride, charcoal and sodium, in a similar 

 manner to that already referred to. The product, calcium carbide, 

 evolves Acetylene when treated with water. (Proc. Chem. Soc, 1893.) 



These results, however, while valuable and interesting as 

 scientific records, were of little commercial importance, owing to the 

 expense necessary in obtaining the materials of manufacture. 



The possibility of producing Acetylene on a large scale and at a 

 reasonable cost, by the process discovered by Wilson, has within the 

 past year been demonstrated by scientists and experts in both England 

 and America. Mr. T. L. Wilson made his discovery by chance, 

 as is very often the case. While aiming^at the attainment of an 

 entirely different object, Mr. Wilson experimenting in his laboratory at 

 Spray, North Carolina, U S.A. (Jour. Soc. Chem. Industry, Jan. 1895), 

 obtained after one of his fusions, a black, brittle mass, which on being 

 brought into contact with water, rapidly effervesced with evolution of 

 Acetylene. ; On further investigation, he came to the conclusion that 

 the brittle, black mass was calcium carbide. It had been produced by 

 fusing together finely powdered lime and coke in an electric furnace 



