Carbide
/ˈkɑːr.baɪd/noun
A binary compound of carbon with a more electropositive element.
Did you know?Carbides have been used in alchemy and metallurgy since ancient times, believed to hold the key to transmuting base metals into gold.
Etymological Timeline
Late Latin
Latin
carbo
“charcoal or coal, representing carbon's elemental form.”
18th Century
English
carbide
“a compound formed from the union of carbon and a metal.”
19th Century
English
calcium carbide
“the first widely used carbide, essential for acetylene production.”
Modern Era
English
carbide
“a term encompassing various compounds of carbon with metals, used in diverse industrial applications.”