Zirconium (Zr)

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Zirconium40Zr91.22


Zirconium was discovered in 1789 byM.H.Klaproth at the University of Berlin, Germany. First isolated 1824 by J.J. Berzeluis at Stockholm, Sweden.

[Arabic, zargun = gold colour]

French: zirconium
German: zirconium
Italian: zirconio
Spanish: circonio

Description: Zirconium is a hard, lustrous, silvery metal which is very resistant towards corrosion due to an oxid layer on the surface. However, it will burn in air if ignited. Zirconium is unaffected by acids (exept HF) and alkalis. It is used in alloys, coloured glazes, and nuclear reactors. Its oxides are used in foundry crucibles, bricks, ceramics and abrasives.
 

Zirconium single crystal properties

State: single crystal (max. gain size ~3-4mm)
Crystal structure: hexagonal
Production method: Floating zone
Standard size: diameter 3-4mm
thickness 1mm
Orientation: (0001)
Orientation accuracy: <2°, <1°, <0.4° or <0.1°
Polishing: as cut, one or two sides polished
Roughness of surface: <0.03µm
Purity: 99.99% ex Hf
Typical analysis (ppm): C 3
H < 1
O 9
N < 5
Cu 1.60
Fe 1.80
Ni < 1
Pb 0.30
Si 0.30

 
Ga, Hf and Ta are below the detection limit
 

Materials properties

Density: 6.49 g/cm3
Melting point: 1851.85 °C / 2125 °K
Boiling point: 4376.85 °C / 4650 °K
Molar volume: 14.02 cm3
Thermal conductivity: 22.7 [300 K] Wm-1K-1
Coefficient of linear thermal expansion: 5.78 x 10-6 K-1
Electrical resistivity: 42.1x 10-8 [293 K] Wm
Mass magnetic susceptibility: +1.68 x 10-8(s) kg-1m3
Young's modulus: 98 GPa
Rigidity modulus: 35 GPa
Bulk modulus: 89.8 GPa
Poisson's ratio: 0.38
Radii: Zr4+ 87; Zr2+ 109; atomic 160; covalent 145
Electronegativity: 1.33 (Pauling); 1.22 (Allred); 3.64 eV (absolute)
Effective nuclear charge: 3.15 (Slater); 6.45 (Clementi); 9.20 (Froese-Fischer)
Number of Isotopes (incl. nuclear isomers): 25
Issotope mass range: 82 -> 101
Crystal structure, (cell dimentions / pm), space group hexagonal
X-ray diffraction: mass absorption coefficients: CuKα 143 (µ/r) / cm2g-1
MoKα 15.9 (µ/r) / cm2g-1
Neutron scattering length: 0.716 b/10-12 cm
Thermal neutron capture cross-section: 0.184 sa / barns

 


Biological data

Biological role: none
Toxicity  
Toxic intake: Generally regarded as of low toxicity.
Lethal intake: LD50 (chloride, oral, rat) = 1688 mg kg-1
Hazards: Zirconium and its compounds are not regarded as particularly poisonous except by excessive ingestion of zirconium salts. Zirconium dust is a very dangerous fire hazard.
Level in humans  
Blood: 0.011 mg dm-3
Bone: <0.1 p.p.m.
Liver: 0.11 p.p.m.
Muscle: 0.08 p.p.m.
Daily dietary intake: c. 0.05 mg
Total mass of element in average [70 kg] person: 1 mg

 


Geological data

MineralFormulaDensityHardnessCrystal apperance
Baddeleyite ZrO2 5.82 6.5 mon., greasy/vit. col./yellow/green
Zircon ZrSiO4 4.7 7.5 tet., stubby crystals, colourless/yellow/grey

 

Chief ore: zircon, baddeleyite
World production:  
Main mining areas: Australia, Brazil, USA, Sri Lanka
Reserves: >1 x 109 tonnes
Specimen: available as foil, powder rod or wire. Safe.

 

Abundances  
Sun: 560 (relative to H = 1 x 1012)
Earth's crust: 190 p.p.m.
Seawater:  
Residence time:  
Classification:  
Oxidation state: IV

Source: Emsley, J. (1998) The Elements (3rd Edition)


Overview of elements with access to our shop

1 18
H
2 13 14 15 16 17
He
Li Be B C
N
O
F
Ne
Na Mg 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Al Si P S
Cl
Ar
K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se
Br
Kr
Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo
Tc
Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I
Xe
Cs Ba La Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Tl Pb Bi
Po
At
Ra
Fr
Ra
Ac
Ce Pr Nd
Pm
Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu


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