Making Magnesium Silicide and Explosive Silane Gas

2014-04-10

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Warning: this experiment is dangerous and possibly explosive. Proper care must be taken.

Magnesium silicide reacts with HCl to produce silane gas. Silane gas is pyrophoric, which means that it spontaneously combusts in contact with air at temperatures below 54C. The silane gas erupts into flames when it contacts air and makes small popping noises.