Coated silicon carbide abrasive grain

Abrasive grain comprising at least one silicon carbide particle and a binder-free unmelted coating of 0.01 to 5 percent, relative to the weight of the abrasive grain, of highly dispersed hydrophilic metal oxide particles having a particle size of primary particles of about 1-500 nm in the d.sub.50 value and a specific surface of 5-500 m.sup.2 /g according to BET from the group of silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, titanium dioxide and mixtures thereof, on the at least one silicon carbide particle.