Cerium carbide, CeC2, is prepared by reducing ceric oxide with carbon in the electric furnace. It has been already described. The reduction of ceria by carbon probably proceeds in three stages: -
2CeO2 + C = Ce2O3 + CO Ce2O3 + 9C = 2CeC3 + 3CO CeC3 = CeC2 + C
and red crystals of the carbide CeC3 may be isolated under suitable conditions. They are decomposed by water with the evolution of acetylene: -
2CeC3 + 6H2O = 2Ce(OH)3 + 3C2H2. |