present in an amount of less than or equal to about 25 by weight calcium carbide in the reactor more preferably the settling aid is present in an amount of about 0 01 to about 25 by weight based on the calcium carbide used in the reactor more preferably the amount of settling aid used in the present invention is less than or equal to about 1 by weight of the calcium carbide that is used in the reaction good results have been obtained when employing the settling aid in an amount of about 0 1 to about 1 0 by weight calcium carbide in the reactor suitably the composition of the present invention is a homogeneous mixture comprising a settling aid in an amount of less than or equal to about 20 by weight mixture and calcium carbide in an amount of greater than or equal to about 80 by weight mixture preferably the composition comprises about 0 01 to about 20 by weight settling aid and about 99 99 to about 80 by weight calcium carbide more preferably the composition of the present invention is a mixture that comprises a settling aid in an amount of less than or equal to about 1 by weight mixture and calcium carbide in an amount of greater than or equal to about 99 by.