Trichlorosilane has the chemical formula SiHCl3 and CAS number 10025-78-2. At ambient temperature and pressure, it is a colorless, transparent, volatile liquid with a strong pungent odor, a boiling point of approximately 31.8°C, and a density greater than that of water. It is readily soluble in organic solvents such as benzene, diethyl ether, and carbon tetrachloride. It reacts violently with water to produce silicic acid, hydrogen chloride, and hydrogen while releasing substantial heat and may ignite. It is chemically reactive, strongly reducing, and corrosive; it is readily oxidized by oxygen at ambient temperature and decomposes at high temperatures. Trichlorosilane is a key intermediate in organosilicon synthesis and semiconductor-material production. It is mainly used to produce high-purity silicon and polysilicon for the semiconductor and photovoltaic industries and to manufacture silane coupling agents, silicone oils, silicone rubber, and other organosilicon products. It is also used as a dopant in optical-fiber preform production, in epitaxial thin-film deposition, and as a reducing agent for metal chlorides.