Calcium carbide, or CaC2, is a chemical compound made up of calcium and carbon. It appears as a grayish-black solid and is primarily used in the production of acetylene gas, which is important for welding and cutting metals. When CaC2 reacts with water, it produces acetylene and calcium hydroxide. In addition to its use in generating acetylene, CaC2 is also utilized in the manufacturing of various chemicals and as a desulfurizing agent in steel production. It can also serve as a ripening agent for fruits, helping to accelerate the ripening process in certain agricultural applications.