The Creation Story
Calcium carbide does not occur naturally. It is manufactured by heating lime and a carbon mixture to 2000-2100 degrees Celcius (3632-3812 degrees Farenheit) in an electric fernace. At those temperatures, the lime is reduced by the carbon into calcium carbide and carbon monoxide (CO), according to the following reaction:
CaO+3C --> CaC2+CO
CaO+3C --> CaC2+CO