ACETYLENE 



23 



ACHAEANS 



of carbon and hydrogen, and it is produced by 

 the action of water on calcium carbide. When 

 calcium carbide is placed in contact with water, 

 the hydrogen of the water unites with the car- 

 bon of the calcium carbide to form acetylene 

 gas. A pound of commercial calcium carbide 

 yields about 4.5 cubic feet of acetylene gas. 

 Calcium carbide can now be purchased by con- 

 sumers, who are enabled to make illuminating 

 gas on their own premises. A reservoir to con- 

 tain the calcium carbide, another for water, and 

 an arrangement for mixing the two are the only 

 requirements. 



Manufacture of Calcium Carbide. Calcium 

 carbide, as now used for commercial purposes, 

 is the product of the electrical fusion of coal 

 dust and lime in the proportion of one pound 

 of coal dust to 1.5486 pounds of lime. The 

 result of the fusion of this quantity is 1.77 

 pounds of a dark gray, cinder-like substance. 

 The lumps of this substance, which is called 

 carbide of calcium or calcium carbide, are brit- 

 tle and crystalline. At first they have a lus- 

 trous surface, but after a short exposure to air 



burning in oxygen (see HYDROGEN). The oxy- 

 acetylene flame, that is, acetylene burning in 



ACETYLENE GENERATOR 

 mt of small size Is sufficient for the ordi- 

 nary residence. 



>come tarnished. The present method 



was perfected about 1892 by 



:nas L. Willson, a Canadian scientist. 



Acetylene Welders and Cutters. The flame 



vl.ne gas, when burniiiK in pure oxy- 



il even hotter than that of hydrogen 



House 



Supply 



Rese 



Bucke 



Lev'cj 



Cross-section of underground tank for supply- 

 ing: acetylene gas to a residence requiring a large 

 number of lights. Besides the house, such a 

 tank will generate sufficient gas to supply t)u> 

 barn and other outbuildings. Plants of this 

 nature are becoming popular In rural onnmunl- 

 lectric light or illuminating gaa is 

 not available. 



oxygen, has been found well adapted to the 

 purpose of welding metals. It is also extcn- 

 used, in a torch which concentrates the 

 flame, for cutting or burning through metal. 

 A thin thread-like flame is directed at the point 

 where the cut is wanted, and burns its way 

 through the hardest metals as though th<\ 

 were cut by a saw. J.F.S. 



Consult Leeds' Acetylene the Principle* of 

 Its Generation and Use; Lewes's Acetylene a 

 Handbook for the Student and Manufacturer. 



ACHAEANS, akcr'anz. the early inhabit- 

 ants of Southeastern Thessaly and a part of 



