An alkali etching liquid for a silicon wafer that includes an aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide, and from 0.1 g/L to 0.5 g/L of diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid. Furthermore, the Fe concentration of the aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide is no more than 50 ppb. An etching method that including a step of etching a silicon wafer with a resistivity of no more than 1.OMEGA.cm using the etching liquid.