The structure of silylhydride groups stabilized on the silica surface
is studied by FTIR spectroscopy. Three types of silylhydride groups ar
e identified: (=Si-O)(2)SiH2, (=Si-O)(2)SiH(OH), (=Si-O)(3)SiH. The da
ta obtained confirms the earlier suggestion that the silylene center i
s a major chemisorption center on the surface of reactive silica.