Iron monosilicide, FeSi

Iron silicide or Iron monosilicide, FeSi, is prepared by heating a mixture of copper silicide and iron filings in an electric furnace. The resulting product is treated with 50 per cent, nitric acid to decompose any copper silicide, and washed. Obtained in this way, iron silicide occurs as tetrahedral crystals, with a brilliant metallic lustre; they are extremely hard, and have a density of 6.17 at 15° C. Fluorine attacks them at ordinary temperatures, whilst chlorine and bromine decompose them at red heat. Molten alkali hydroxides attack the silicide, as also do fused mixtures of the alkali nitrates and carbonates.