Described is a method of producing spherical particles made from inorganic oxides by sol/gel conversion in which a sol is sprayed upwards from below into a reaction zone containing a reactant gas in such a way that the sol does not split up into individual droplets until immediately before or as it enters the reaction zone, and the droplets thus formed fly through the reaction zone along a curved trajectory during which they are presolidified, the presolidified droplets being caught in a trap. Also described are spherical particles made from inorganic oxides with a narrow pore-diameter distribution and a resistance to wear which are suitable for use as catalysts, catalyst supports, adsorbants, drying agents or ion-exchange materials.