Reactive dicalcium silicate (Ca 2 SiO 4 ) has been synthesized by the Pechini process, and hydration kinetics studied. With increasing calcination temperature, the amorphous product first crystallizes to ␣ L -phase and subsequently to the -and ␥-phases. The specific surface area, ranging from 40 to 1 m 2 /g, strongly depends on the calcination temperature of 700°-1200°C for 1 h. Samples with a high surface area have a high water demand; a water/cement ratio >2.0 is required to produce formable pastes in some instances. Hydration kinetics are determined by XRD, 29 Si magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR), and differential scanning calorimetry/thermogravimetry (DSG/TG). The hydration rate depends only on the surface area, not on the polymorph. Complete hydration occurs in as early as 7 d. Very little calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH) 2 ) is formed in the most reactive specimens (calcined at 700°and 800°C), which indicates the Ca/Si ratio in C-S-H gels is ∼2.0, but more Ca(OH) 2 forms from samples calcined at higher temperature. The silicate structure of the hydrated Ca 2 SiO 4 pastes is investigated using 29 Si MAS NMR spectroscopy and trimethylsilylation analysis.