Cuprous Hydrogen Acetylide

Cuprous Hydrogen Acetylide (Monokupfer acetylenid, in Ger), CuCiCH. Attempt to prepare this compd by adding with stirring satd soln of C,H, in w at 0° to an aq soln of CuSO + NH,OH+HO. H,N. HQ was unsuccessful. Instead of this, the dicopper acetyl-ide, CUjC, was obtained. 

Cuprous Hydrogen Acetylide (Monokupfer-acetylenid, in Ger), CuC CH. Attempt to... 

The substance is stable at ordinary temperatures and up to 100°C. Like cupric acetylide it decomposes on being heated in hydrochloric acid (Berthelot [102], Sabaneyev [107]). A solution of potassium cyanide also causes decomposition with the loss of acetylene. Makowka [108] showed that aldehyde-like compounds are formed from cuprous acetylide on reaction with a 30% solution of hydrogen peroxide. 

The reactions of acetylene which have been mentioned are analogous to those of the unsaturated hydrocarbons containing a double bond. Acetylene and other compounds which contain a carbon atom in combination with hydrogen and joined to a second atom in the manner which is represented by a triple bond, that is, those containing the group H —C =, show characteristic properties which serve to distinguish them from other substances. Such compounds are converted into metallic derivatives when they are treated with an ammoniacal solution of cuprous chloride or of silver chloride. If acetylene is passed into a solution of cuprous chloride in ammonia, a red precipitate is formed which has the composition C2CU2. This compound, which is a carbide of copper, is usually called copper acetylide. It explodes, when dry, if it is struck or is heated to 100°-120°. When treated with hydrochloric acid or with a solution of potassium cyanide, acetylene is formed. 

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