Alkali metal
Alkali metal and alkaline earth metal acetylides of the general formula MC≡CM are salt-like Zintl phase compounds, containing ions. Evidence for this ionic character can be seen in the ready hydrolysis of these compounds to form acetylene and metal oxides, there is also some evidence for the solubility of ions in liquid ammonia. The ion has a closed shell ground state of 1Σ, making it isoelectronic to a neutral molecule N2, which may afford it some stability.