Abstract: A process for preparing silica sols substantially free of alkali metal ions which comprisesA. adding to a boiling aqueous solution of a lower alkanol amine a 2-10% by weight aqueous solution of silicic acid, the mole ratio of SiO.sub.2 to lower alkanol amine being in the range of from 1:1 to 100:1;B. evaporating water during the addition of the silicic acid to the aqueous solution of the lower alkanol amine so as to maintain a constant volume;C. recovering the aqueous colloidal silica sol which is substantially free of alkali metal ions, said sol having a mole ratio of SiO.sub.2 to alkanol amine in the range of 1:1 to 100:1; and then if desired,D. treating this sol with both a cation and anion ion exchange resin so as to further deionize the resulting alkaline metal-free silica sol, as well as to remove substantial quantities of the alkanol amine. Then if an alkaline sol is desired, adjusting the pH of the resulting acid sol of Step D to between 9 and 10 with an aqueous solution of ammonia.