The bachelor asks me a question in a personal letter:
Recently I'm working with Si Nano composite, facing that same issue. I want to do quantification of Si by ICP OES. I'm looking for an alternative of HF. I find some paper related SiO2 dissolve in NaOH/KOH(HOT) solution. But i'm confused do Si metal main the same reaction mechanism as SiO2 ?
I answer him:
Interaction of non-metal Si with alkalis
2NaOH+Si+H2O=Na2SiO3 +2H2
2 sodium hydroxide + silicon + water = sodium metasilicate + 2 hydrogen↑