TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preparation (Claimed): Preparation of polycrystalline silicon comprises (a) comminuting polycrystalline silicon rods deposited by chemical vapor deposition to chunks, (b) sorting and classifying the chunks into size classes of 20 to less than 200 mm, 45 to less than 200 mm, 90 to less than 200 mm, 10-40 mm, 4-15 mm or 1-5 mm, (c) metering the polycrystalline silicon chunks by a metering unit, (d) packing the polycrystalline silicon chunks metered to a mass of at least 5 kg by a packing unit by filling into at least one plastic bag, where the metering unit and the packing unit comprise elements which allow, during the metering and during the packing, removal of fines, or of particles having a size less than 8.3 mm. The packing unit comprises an energy absorber or a reservoir vessel, which enables sliding or slipping of the silicon chunks into the plastic bag. A gas flow, which is generated within the plastic bag after the bag is filled, transports the fines or dust or particles out of the bag, and the fines or dust or particles are then sucked out with a suction device, in such a way that, after filling the packing bag, the following fines or particles are present in a packing bag having: a size class of 20-200 mm: fines fraction of less than 900 ppmw; a size class of 45-200 mm: fines fraction of less than 600 ppmw; a size class of 90-200 mm: fines fraction of less than 500 ppmw; a size class of 10-40 mm: particles of size of less than 8.3 mm to an extent of less than 10000 ppmw; a size class of 4-15 mm: particles of size of less than 3.5 mm to an extent of less than 10000 ppmw; and a size class of 1-5 mm: particles of size less than 1 mm to an extent of less than 10000 ppmw. Preferred Components: The chunks have a size of 45-200 mm, preferably 90-200 mm, and the fines fraction in the plastic bag is less than 600 ppmw, preferably less than 500 ppmw, where at least 90 wt.% of chunks have a size of 10-40 mm, preferably 1-5 mm, where particles of a size less than 8.3 mm, preferably less than 1 mm are present to an extent of less than 10000 ppmw in the plastic bag. EXAMPLE - No suitable example given.