Chemistry for Non-Specialists Course Book: Making silicon & silanes
Description
Magnesium and sand are heated together and silicon is produced by an exothermic reaction. The product is placed in acid to remove magnesium oxide and unreacted magnesium. Small amounts of silanes are produced by the reaction of magnesium silicide (a side product) with the acid. These react spontaneously with air to give spectacular but harmless small explosions.
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