Pyrogenically produced silicon dioxide powder with a specific surface area of between 5 and 600 m.sup.2/g and a carbon content of less than 500 ppm, which displays a specific dibutyl phthalate absorption of less than or equal to 1.2 g dibutyl phthalate/100 g SiO2 per m.sup.2 of specific surface area and a specific thickening action of less than 15 mPas/m.sup.2 of specific surface area. It is produced by supplying vaporous tetramethoxysilane and/or tetraethoxysilane together with air and separately hydrogen to a burner, and allowing the mixture of gases to react in a flame in a reaction chamber connected in series to the burner, and separating the solid reaction product from the gas stream by known means, the lambda value in the burner being between 0.95 and 1.5 and sufficient secondary air also being supplied to the reaction chamber that the lambda value in the reaction chamber is between 0.8 and 1.6. The invention also provides a dispersion containing the silicon dioxide powder and the use of the powder and of the dispersion.