Zirconium

Zirconium, Zr, is a transition metal element, found in Group IVa of the periodic table. Its atomic number is 40, its relative atomic mass is 91.22.

Atomic Number : 40
Relative Atomic Mass : 91.22

Discovery

Zirconium, Zr, was discovered by M H Klaproth in 1788AD.
Zirconium, Zr, was first isolated by Berzelius in 1824AD.

Occurrence

Zirconium is widely distributed and occurs at low concentration in Earth's crust. The principal ores are

Zircon, ZrSiO4, and
Baddeleyite, ZrO2.

Manufacture

Zirconium is isolated either

by heating a mixture of its Zirconium Oxide, ZrO2, and calcium metal or
by the electrolysis of its fluoride salts.

Properties

Zirconium is a soft light lustrous metal, which is difficult to obtain on account of the ease with which it reacts with Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon and Silicon.

Reactions

Zirconium closely resembles Silicon in its chemical properties.
Zirconium, Zr, burns in air to form the dioxide, Zirconia, ZrO2.

Uses

Zirconium is used

as an oxygen scavenger in radio values and other high vacuum electronic devices,
in alloys,
to prepare Zirconia, ZrO2, which is a very hard substance, and
in the form of its salts is used in mordants in dyeing.

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