Chemical elements
  Thorium
    Isotopes
    Energy
    Production
    Application
    Physical Properties
    Chemical Properties
      Thorium Hydride
      Thorium Fluoride
      Thorium Oxyfluoride
      Potassium Thorifluoride
      Thorium Chloride
      Thorium Oxychloride
      Complex Thorium Chlorides
      Thorium Bromide
      Thorium Oxybromide
      Thorium Iodide
      Thorium Dioxide
      Thoria
      Metathorium Oxide
      Thorium Hydroxide
      Thorium Superoxide
      Thorium Sulphide
      Thorium Sulphite
      Thorium Sulphate
      Complex Thorium Sulphates
      Thorium Selenite
      Thorium Selenate
      Thorium Nitride
      Thorium Nitrate
      Thorium Orthophosphate
      Thorium Arsenates
      Thorium Carbide
      Thorium Carbonate
      Thorium Formate
      Thorium Acetate
      Thorium Oxalate
      Thorium Tartrate
      Thorium Acetylacetone
      Thorium Silicide
      Thorium Silicate
      Thorium Borides

Thorium Carbide, ThC2






Thorium Carbide, ThC2, was first obtained impure by Troost, who heated thoria with carbon in an electric furnace in order to obtain the metal. This compound was prepared in the pure state, however, by Moissan and Etard, who heated in the electric furnace a mixture of 72 grams of thoria and 6 grams of carbon compressed into small cylinders. The current employed was of 900 amperes at 50 volts, and the operation lasted four minutes. The product, examined under the microscope, consisted of yellow, transparent crystals mixed with graphite; the density of the carbide at 18° C. is 8.96; it burns brilliantly when slightly heated in oxygen, and also forms a sulphide, with beautiful incandescence, when heated in sulphur vapour. Concentrated acids have little action on the carbide, dilute acids attack it rapidly, and water reacts with it readily, yielding a mixture of hydrogen with methane, ethane, propane, butane, ethylene, propylene and homologues, and acetylenic hydrocarbons.
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