Zirconium
Zirconium (锆, symbol Zr) is chemical element number 40, a Transition Metal in period 5, group 4 of the periodic table, with a standard atomic weight of about 91.224. Grayish-white, strong, ductile metal. Used in nuclear reactors for its low neutron capture.
Properties
| Atomic number | 40 |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Zr |
| Atomic mass | 91.224 u |
| Category | Transition Metal |
| Period | 5 |
| Group | 4 |
| Electron configuration | [Kr] 4d² 5s² |
| Electronegativity | 1.33 |
| Covalent radius | 175 pm |
| Density | 6.506 g/cm³ |
| Melting point | 2128 K |
| Boiling point | 4682 K |
| Discovery | Martin Heinrich Klaproth, 1789 |
Overview
Grayish-white, strong, ductile metal. Used in nuclear reactors for its low neutron capture. Zirconium (symbol Zr) is chemical element number 40, sitting in period 5, group 4 of the periodic table and classed as a Transition Metal. As a transition metal it commonly shows several oxidation states, forms coloured compounds, and is widely used in catalysts and alloys.
With 2 electrons in its outermost shell, Zirconium bonds accordingly; full configuration [Kr] 4d² 5s², electronegativity 1.33. At room temperature it is normally a solid (a very high melting point); it melts near 2128 K (1854.9 °C), boils near 4682 K (4408.9 °C), has a density around 6.506 g/cm³.
Common applications range across Nuclear, Structural / Alloys and Medical / Pharma. It was first described by Martin Heinrich Klaproth in 1789. Browse elements of the same category in the browse view.
Electron shells
Electrons per shell: 2 · 8 · 18 · 10 · 2
Main uses
- Nuclear
- Structural / Alloys
- Medical / Pharma
Hazard
Compounds containing Zirconium
No compounds in this knowledge base contain Zirconium yet.
Data sources
Atomic mass uses IUPAC (CIAAW) standard atomic weights; the covalent radius is from Cordero et al. (2008). Verify on the RSC Periodic Table, PubChem and Wikipedia. Educational reference only.