Cerium carbide, CeC₂

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.