Abstract: Chlorine-free tetraalkoxysilanes of formula (I) (R1O)4Si  (I) wherein R1 is, independently in each instance, an unbranched, branched, and/or cyclic C1-6 hydrocarbon group is continuously manufactured by a process, comprising: reacting metallic silicon powder with a monohydric alcohol in the presence of a basic catalyst comprising a mixture of: (a) at least one compound of formula (II) [R2O—(R3O)m]nSi)OR1)4-n  (II) (b) at least one compound of formula (III) R2O—(R3O)m—M, and  (III) (c) at least one compound of formula (IV) R2O—(R3O)m—H  (IV) wherein R1 is as defined above; R2 represents, independently in each instance, a C1-10 hydrocarbon group, or hydrogen; R3 represents, independently in each instance, a C1-4 hydrocarbon group; M represents an alkali metal selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, and K; m is zero or a number in the range of 1-20; and n is zero or a number in the range of 1-4; further comprisin