[5] Like other chlorosilanes or silanes, silicon tetrachloride reacts readily with water: The reaction can be noticed on exposure of the liquid to air, as SiCl4 vapour produces fumes as it reacts with moisture to give a cloud-like aerosol of silica and hydrochloric acid.

A series of compounds containing up to six silicon atoms in the chain can be separated from the mixture using fractional distillation.

Vapor phase epitaxy of reducing silicon tetrachloride with hydrogen at approximately 1250 °C was done: The produced polysilicon is used as wafers in large amounts by the photovoltaic industry for conventional solar cells made of crystalline silicon and also by the semiconductor industry.

Optical fibres are made using processes like MCVD and OFD where silicon tetrachloride is oxidized to pure silica in the presence of oxygen.

Pollution from the production of silicon tetrachloride has been reported in China associated with the increased demand for photovoltaic cells that has been stimulated by subsidy programs.