Dilithium acetylide

Dilithium acetylide
	LiC≡CLi
Names
	Preferred IUPAC name Lithium acetylide
	Systematic IUPAC name Lithium ethynediide
	Other names Dilithium acetylide; Lithium dicarbon; Lithium percarbide;
Identifiers
CAS Number	1070-75-3 ;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
ChemSpider	59503 ;
ECHA InfoCard	100.012.710
EC Number	213-980-1;
PubChem CID	66115;
UNII	GZ7TQ3WG5P ;
	InChI InChI=1S/C2.2Li/c1-2;;/q-2;2+1 Key: ARNWQMJQALNBBV-UHFFFAOYSA-N ; InChI=1S/C2.2Li/c1-2;;/q-2;2+1 Key: ARNWQMJQALNBBV-UHFFFAOYSA-N; InChI=1/C2.2Li/c1-2;;/q-2;2*+1 Key: ARNWQMJQALNBBV-UHFFFAOYAB;
	SMILES [Li+].[Li+].[C-]#[C-];
Properties
Chemical formula	Li2C2
Molar mass	37.9034 g/mol
Appearance	Powder
Density	1.3 g/cm3
Melting point	452°C
Solubility in water	Reacts
Solubility	insoluble in organic solvents
Related compounds
Related compounds	Tetralithiomethane; Monolithium acetylide; Monosodium acetylide; Copper(I) acetylide; Silver acetylide; Calcium carbide;
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). verify (what is ?) Infobox references

Dilithium acetylide is an organometallic compound with the formula Li₂C₂. It is typically derived by double deprotonation of acetylene. X-ray crystallography confirms the presence of C≡C subunits attached to lithium, resulting in a polymeric structure. Li₂C₂ is one of an extensive range of lithium-carbon compounds, which include the lithium-rich Li₄C, Li₆C₂, Li₈C₃, Li₆C₃, Li₄C₃, Li₄C₅, and the graphite intercalation compounds LiC₆, LiC₁₂, and LiC₁₈. It is an intermediate compound produced during radiocarbon dating procedures.

Li₂C₂ is the most thermodynamically-stable lithium-rich carbide and the only one that can be obtained directly from the elements. It was first produced by Moissan, in 1896 who reacted coal with lithium carbonate.

Li₂CO₃ + 4 C → Li₂C₂ + 3 CO

The other lithium-rich compounds are produced by reacting lithium vapor with chlorinated hydrocarbons, e.g. CCl₄. Lithium carbide is sometimes confused with the drug lithium carbonate, Li₂CO₃, because of the similarity of its name.