It's detected! The existence of the prototypical Zintl ions Tt44− (Tt=Group 14 element), which are isoelectronic to the P4 molecule, used to be confined to the solid state. Recently, circumstantial evidence for a solution chemistry in liquid ammonia emerged. Direct spectroscopic observation of the dissolved anions has now been achieved. In the case of Si44−, this is the first solution detection of any homoatomic silicide.