The present invention is; (a) a process for stabilizing a cyclotetrasiloxane, such as 1,3,5,7-tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane, against polymerization used in a chemical vapor deposition process for silicon oxides in electronic material fabrication comprising providing an effective amount of a free radical scavenger polymerization inhibitor to such cyclotetrasiloxane; and (b) a composition of a cyclotetrasiloxane, such as 1,3,5,7-tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane, stabilized against polymerization used in a chemical vapor deposition process as a precursor for silicon oxides in electronic material fabrication, comprising; such cyclotetrasiloxane and a free radical scavenger polymerization inhibitor.