# Silicothermic reaction

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**Silicothermic reactions** are [thermic](/source/Exothermic) [chemical reactions](/source/Chemical_reaction) using [silicon](/source/Silicon) as the [reducing agent](/source/Redox) at high temperature (800-1400°C).

They were initially commercialized for the production of low-carbon [ferromanganese](/source/Ferromanganese) before and during [World War I](/source/World_War_I)([F. M. Becket](/source/Frederick_Mark_Becket) played a significant role) and are still used today. They were also historically used for the production of low-carbon ferrochrome, but were displaced by electric methods.

The most prominent example is the [Pidgeon process](/source/Pidgeon_process) (developed commercially in Canada during the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War)[1] by [Lloyd Montgomery Pidgeon](/source/Lloyd_Montgomery_Pidgeon)) for reducing [magnesium](/source/Magnesium) metal from [ores](/source/Ore). Other processes include the [Bolzano process](/source/Bolzano_process) and the [magnetherm process](/source/Magnetherm_process). All three are commercially used for magnesium production.

## See also

- [Aluminothermic reaction](/source/Aluminothermic_reaction)
- [Calciothermic reaction](/source/Calciothermic_reaction)

## References

1. *Encyclopedia of materials, parts and finishes*, 2nd edition, Mel M. Schwartz, 2002, p. 371, ISBN 1-56676-661-3

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Silicothermic reaction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicothermic_reaction) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicothermic_reaction?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.