zirconium

• Description
• General information
• Physical data
• Radii
• Electronegativities
• Solid state structure
• Temperatures
• Enthalpies
• Ionization Enthalpies
• Isotopes
• Further information

Description

Zirconium is found in abundance in S-type stars, and has been identified in the sun and meteorites. Analyses of lunar rock samples show a surprisingly high zirconium oxide content, compared with terrestrial rocks. Some forms of zircon have excellent gemstone qualities.

Zirconium is a grayish-white lustrous metal. The finely divided metal may ignite spontaneously in air, especially at elevated temperatures. The solid metal is much more difficult to ignite. The inherent toxicity of zirconium compounds is low. Hafnium is invariably found in zirconium ores, and the separation is difficult. Commercial grade zirconium contains from 1 to 3% hafnium.

General information

Discoveror: Martin Heinrich Klaproth
Date discovered: 1789
Discovered at: Berlin, Germany
Meaning of name: From the Arabic word "zargun" meaning "gold colour"

Physical data

Standard state: solid at 298 K
Colour: silvery white
Density of solid at ambient temperature/kg m^-3: 6511
Molar volume/cm³: 14.02

Radii /pm

Atomic: 206
Covalent (single bond):
Pauling radius for the ion [Zr]^-: no data

Valence shell orbital radius maxima (R_max)

orbital	s	p	d	f
radius	178.5	no data	84.0	no data

Electronegativities

Both values are quoted on the Pauling scale.

Pauling: 1.33
Allred Rochow: 1.22

Crystal Structure

structure: hcp (hexagonal close-packed)

The following CrystalMaker image represents the solid state structure. For most elements, the most stable allotrope is illustrated. Try WebElements version 2 for interactive virtual reality and CHIME images.

Temperatures (/K)

melting point: 2128
boiling point: 4682

Enthalpies /kJ mol^-1

fusion: 21.0
vaporization: 581

single bond enthalpies:

Zr-F	Zr-Cl	Zr-Br	Zr-I	Zr-Zr
no data	no data	no data	no data	no data

Ionization enthalpies /kJ mol^-1

Number	Enthalpy
1st	660
2nd	1267
3rd	2218
4th	3313
5th	7860

Isotopes

This section gives some data for naturally occurring isotopes.

Nominal mass	Accurate mass	% natural abundance
90Zr	89.9047026 (26)	51.45 (3)
91Zr	90.9056439 (26)	11.22 (4)
92Zr	91.9050386 (26)	17.15 (2)
94Zr	93.9063148 (28)	17.38 (4)
96Zr	95.908275 (4)	2.80 (2)

Further Information

• Additional information about WebElements 1.2.2
• This is a licensed copy (here is the full list) of WebElements 1.2.2 and contains a subset of the material contained within the main version of WebElements (version 2)
• For further information please try WebElements version 2
• Sheffield Chemdex: perhaps the largest internet chemistry directory
• Sheffield Chemputer: interactive chemistry calculators on the WWW