Carbides

GROUP-14(CARBIDES)
The general electronic configuration for group 14 is ns2np2

Carbides are binary compounds in which carbon combines with elements which are more
electropositive than carbon.
Eg: CaC2,Al4C3,SiC,Be2C etc
Classification:
On the basis of the bonding involved , the carbides are classified as
1)Ionic Carbides
2)Covalent Carbides
3)Interstitial Carbides
Ionic /Salt like Carbides:
Ionic carbides are formed chiefly by metals of group IB, II B&III B(except Boron) when they
react with carbon.
These are prepared by heating the metals or oxides with carbon or CO,CO2 or hydrocarbon.
Eg: 2Be +C  Be2C
CaO+2CCaC2 + CO
Ionic carbides are further classified as :
a)Methanides: Ionic carbides which on hydrolysis give methane are called as methanides.
These carbides contain C4- or C34- ions.
Be2C +4H2O  2Be (OH)2 +CH4
Al4C3 + 12 H2O  4Al (OH)3 + 3CH4
Mn3C+ 6H20 3Mn(OH)2 +CH4 +H2

Structure of Al4C3
b)Acetylides:-Ionic Carbides which on hydrolysis give acetylene are called Acetylides.
They contain[C=C]2-
CaC2 + 2H2O  Ca(OH)2 +C2 H2
c)Allylides : Ionic carbides which on hydrolysis give allylene (CH2=CH=CH2)are called

allylides. These contain C34- ions.
Ex:Mg2C3 + 4H2O Mg(OH)2 +C3H4
2)Covalent Carbides:
Elements having almost same electronegativity as carbon react with carbon to form
covalent carbides.
Eg: B4C , SiC
Preparation:
By reducing them with carbon in an electric furnace
2B2O3 +7C B4C + 6CO
SiO2 + 3C SiC +2CO
Silicon Carbide is prepared on large scale .It is extremely inert chemically (resists action of
almost all reagents)
Structure of SiC
Si-C-Si-C-Si-C-Si
Structure of SiC is similar to that of diamond. It has definite 3D structure of Si& C atoms
Because of this structure, to break carborundum number of bonds should be broken which
needs more energy. Therefore, carborundum is hard and used as abrasive.
Structure of Boron carbide:

 Boron carbide is hard ,chemically inactive & has high melting point like silicon
carbide.
 Boron carbide is made up of B12 icosahedral linear C3 groups.
 Each Boron atom is bonded to 4-5 other boron atoms in the icosahedron ,the three
dimensional network of B-B &B—C—C –C – C –B bonds extend throughout the
crystal.
 These are used as abrasives and cutting and grinding glass.
 B4C is used in making shield which protect from radioactivity
Only for reference
Interstitial Carbides
 Compounds of carbon with transition metals like titanium , Zirconium ,Tungsten
,Vanadium ,Molybdenum are called interstitial carbides.
 In these carbides small carbon atoms occupy interstitial positions in the crystal
lattices of the metals therefore these are known as interstitial carbides.
 Since the carbon atoms occupy the interstitial spaces ,the characteristics of metallic
state remains unchanged.
 Interstitial carbides are of 2 types
 MC(M-Ti,Zr,Hf,V,Nb,Ta,Mo,W)
Only for reference

 M2c(M=v,Mb,&W)
Only for reference
 Because of extreme hardness ,very high physical and chemical inertness carbides
have high industrial importance and are used for cutting tools.
Reactiviity of carbides;
1)Alkaline metals carbides are decomposed by dilute acids or water to yield acetylene gas.
CaC2 + 2H2O  Ca(OH)2 +C2 H2
2)On heating they combine with nitrogen .
CaC2+ N2  CaCN2 + C
3)They reduce magnesium oxide to magnesium.
CaC2+3MgO  CaO + 3Mg + 2CO
4)They react with ammonia and bromine
CaC2 + 4 NH3  CaCN2 + NH4CN + 4H2
CaC2 + 4Br2  CaBr2 +C2Br6
5)Aluminium carbide decomposed by water and liberate methane
Al4C3 + 12H2O  4Al(OH)3 + 3 CH4
6)It reacts with oxygen to form alumina
Al4C3 + 6H2O  2Al2O3 +3CO2
Industrial applications of carbides

 Carbides are very hard and are used as efficient abrasives, drilling tools &cutting
tools.
 Silicon carbides being used as abrasives and a deoxidant in metallurgy and as
resistors for electrical furnace.
 Carbides have been used as reducing agent in metallurgy and in electro
thermal work.
 Aluminium Carbides is used in the preparation of methane, calcium carbide is used
for acetylene.
 As carbides can with stand high temperature, they are widely used as furnace lining.
 Tungsten carbide is used for the manufacture of high speed tools.
 Covalent carbides are being used for cutting diamonds, for drilling holes in rocks ,for
making electrodes for electrical furnace and for making lamp filaments.

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Carbides

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GROUP-14(CARBIDES)

The general electronic configuration for group 14 is ns2np2

Be2C +4H2O  2Be (OH)2 +CH4

Al4C3 + 12 H2O  4Al (OH)3 + 3CH4

Mn3C+ 6H20 3Mn(OH)2 +CH4 +H2

c)Allylides : Ionic carbides which on hydrolysis give allylene (CH2=CH=CH2)are called

Structure of Boron carbide:

Only for reference

Only for reference

Only for reference

Industrial applications of carbides

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