Zirconium

Source of the photo
http://periodictable.com/Elements/040/index.html
Author of the description
Gruiz Katalin

Atomic number

40

Atomic mass

91.22 g.mol -1

Electronegativity

1.2

Density

6.49 g.cm-3 at 20°C

Melting point

1852 °C

Boiling point

4400 °C

Vanderwaals radius

0.160 nm

Ionic radius

0.08 nm (+4)

Isotopes

11

Electronic shell

[ Kr ] 4d2 5s2

Energy of first ionisation

669 kJ.mol -1

Energy of second ionisation

1346 kJ.mol -1

Energy of third ionisation

2312 kJ.mol -1

Energy of fourth ionisation

3256 kJ.mol -1

Discovered by

Martin Klaproth in 1789

 

 


Zirconium is a very strong, malleable, ductile, lustrous silver-gray metal. Its chemical and physical properties are similar to those of titanium. Zirconium is extremely resistant to heat and corrosion. Zirconium is lighter than steel and its hardness is similar to copper. When it is finely divided, the metal can spontaneously ignite in air, especially at high temperatures. Zirconium powder is black and is regarded as very dangerous fire hazard. Zirconium does not dissolve in acids and alkalis.

Applications

Zirconium is used in alloys such as zircaloy, which is used in nuclear applications since it does not readily absorb neutrons. Also used in catalytic converters, percussion caps and furnace bricks. Baddeleyite and impure zirconium (zirconia) are used in lab crucibles.

The major end uses of zircon (ZrSiO4) are refractories, ceramic opacification and foundry sands. Zircon is also marketed as a natural gemstone used in jewelry. The metal also has many other uses, among them in photographic flashbulbs and surgical instruments, to make the glass for television, in the removal of residual gases from electronic vacuum tubes, and as a hardening agent in alloys, especially steel. The paper and packaging industries are finding that zirconium compounds make good surface coatings because they have excellent water resistance and strength.