The Chemical Formula of Aluminium Carbide

The chemical formula of aluminium carbide is Al4C3.

Aluminium carbide has a complex lattice structure and is stable up to 1400 degC. It is a crystalline substance with the appearance of pale yellow to brown crystals. It is used as a corrosion product of graphite electrodes in electrolytic manufacturing of aluminium.

The chemical formula of calcium carbide is CaC2 and is an odourless solid that appears colourless at room temperature. It is widely used to make acetylene and calcium cyanamide.

It is also a source of calcium carbonate, which is a common component of water softener systems. It is also a good absorbent and can be used in filtration.

Aluminum can be dissolved in water to produce insoluble aluminum hydroxide or to form insoluble hydrated aluminum oxides, such as Gibbsite (Al2O3*3H2O). The latter is the most stable of the hydrates at 25 degC.

Molten metals such as lead, zinc, and tin readily alloy with and dissolve aluminum so that the properties of this metal are greatly changed. Mercury, which may be considered to be a molten metal, amalgamates readily at room temperature with aluminum alloys.

Aluminum can be reduced to an alloy with other metals in an arc furnace or by fractional crystallization in a salt bath. In the former method, an aluminum alloy is tapped out of the furnace, and the remainder of the mixture is recycled back into the arc furnace. In the latter process, a second metal such as iron, silicon, tin or copper is added to the furnace and reduced to alloy with the aluminum.