Demonstration of burning ice. This is a chemical reaction between water from the ice, and a layer of calcium carbide beneath the ice. Calcium carbide reacts with water to produce acetylene (ethyne), which is highly flammable. When the acetylene is ignited it burns readily, and the warmth helps to melt more ice, adding more water to the reaction. Water has a very high heat capacity, so even in the middle of a flame of burning acetylene the ice cubes do not melt very quickly.