Talk:Pidgeon process

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Its written that silicon and magnesia react to produce silica and magnesium.

But this seems impossible.

By heating sand with magnesium powder to produce magnesium silicide (Mg2Si).

SiO2 + 4Mg -> Mg2Si + 2 MgO

Also, this process employs dolomite, which is mixture of CaCO3 and MgCO3. Since CaO and oxides of heavier alkaline earth metals are more basic, they can be easily reduced to metals by magnesium.

MO + Mg -> MgO + M (M = Ca, Sr and Ba) Anoop.m (talk) 13:15, 22 July 2012 (UTC)