Inorganic Chemicals

Calcium carbide is used in carbide lamps, in which water drips on the carbide and the acetylene formed is ignited. These lamps were usable but dangerous in coal mines, where the presence of the flammable gas methane made them a serious hazard. The presence of flammable gases in coal mines led to miner safety lamps such as the Davy lamp, in which a wire gauze reduces the risk of methane ignition. However, carbide lamps were still used extensively in slate, copper, and tin mines, where methane is not a serious hazard, but most miner& acute;s lamps have now been replaced by electric lamps.