In this paper it is demonstrated unequivocally by solid-state nuclear magne
tic resonance and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectrosco
pies that, at high temperature, hydrogen reacts directly with pyrogenic sil
ica to form stable hydride Si-H groups. Such modified silicas should exhibi
t specific properties far from those of silicas having only surface silanol
groups. The interest for hydride-modified silicas arises from the possibil
ity of using their Si-H groups as reducing agents or as active sites for th
e synthesis of new chromatographic phases. (C) 1999 academic Press.