Zirconium (Zr)
Zirconium is a strong, corrosion-resistant metal used in nuclear reactors and as a gemstone substitute.
Properties of Zirconium
- Atomic number
- 40
- Category
- Transition Metal
- Atomic mass
- 91.224 u
- Electron configuration
- [Kr] 4d² 5s²
- Melting point
- 2128 K (1854.85 °C)
- Boiling point
- 4682 K (4408.85 °C)
- Density
- 6.506 g/cm³
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 1.33
- Appearance
- Silvery-white metal
- Discovered by
- Martin Heinrich Klaproth (1789)
Facts about Zirconium
- Cubic zirconia, the fake diamond, is made from zirconium!
- Zirconium is used in nuclear power plants because it doesn't absorb neutrons!
- Zirconium is extremely resistant to corrosion — even stronger than titanium!
- Zirconium powder can catch fire spontaneously in air!