A widely used process for obtaining titanium metal. Titanium tetrachloride is reduced with magnesium metal at red heat and atmospheric pressure, in the presence of an inert gas blanket of helium or argon. Magnesium chloride and titanium metal are produced. The reaction is TiCl4 + 2 Mg → Ti + 2MgCl2. Essentially the same process is also used for obtaining zirconium.