Zirconium (Zr)
Tiny zircon crystals from the Jack Hills in Western Australia are about 4.4 billion years old, the oldest known minerals formed on Earth.
Zirconium properties
- Atomic mass
- 91.224 u
- Category
- Transition metal
- Group
- 4
- Period
- 5
- Block
- d-block
- State at room temp.
- Solid
- Electronegativity
- 1.33
- Melting point
- 2,128 K (1,854.8 °C)
- Boiling point
- 4,650 K (4,376.8 °C)
- Density
- 6.52 g/cm³
- Atomic radius
- 186 pm
- Ionization energy
- 6.634 eV
- Electron affinity
- 0.426 eV
- Radioactive
- No, has stable isotopes
- Discovered
- 1789
Zirconium electron configuration
- Electron configuration
- [Kr] 4d2 5s2
- Full electron configuration
- 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d2 5s2
- Electron shells
- 2 · 8 · 18 · 10 · 2
The electron configuration of Zirconium (Zr) is [Kr] 4d2 5s2. Its 40 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 8, 18, 10, 2.
Protons, neutrons and electrons in Zirconium
A neutral Zirconium atom has 40 protons and 40 electrons. Most Zirconium atoms have about 51 neutrons: the atomic mass rounded to 91, minus the atomic number 40.
Neutrons are approximate: atoms of the same element can have different numbers of neutrons (isotopes). Atomic number and mass
How many valence electrons does Zirconium have?
2
Zirconium has 2 valence electrons, counting the electrons in its outermost s subshell. Like most transition metals, it can also use d electrons in bonding.
Zirconium orbital diagram
Each box is an orbital that holds up to two electrons with opposite spins (↑↓). The inner shells are the same as the noble gas in brackets. How to write electron configurations
Molar mass of Zirconium
91.224 g/mol
One mole of Zirconium atoms (6.022 × 10²³ atoms) has a mass of 91.224 grams. Use this value to convert between grams and moles.
Zirconium facts
- Tiny zircon crystals from the Jack Hills in Western Australia are about 4.4 billion years old, the oldest known minerals formed on Earth.
- Zirconium ores always contain some hafnium, a chemical near-twin so similar that it was not discovered until 1923.
- Zirconium (Zr) has atomic number 40 and is a solid at room temperature. It was discovered in 1789.
Position in the periodic table
Zirconium is element 40, in period 5 and group 4 of the periodic table, in the d-block.
Uses of Zirconium
Zirconium alloys are used to sheathe the uranium fuel in nuclear reactors, because zirconium absorbs very few neutrons and resists corrosion in hot water. Zircon sand is used in foundry molds and to make ceramic tiles and glazes opaque white. Zirconium dioxide (zirconia) is made into tough ceramic dental crowns, knives and hip joint parts, and its cubic form is a popular diamond imitation.
Who discovered Zirconium?
German chemist Martin Heinrich Klaproth discovered zirconium in 1789 in Berlin, identifying its oxide in a sample of the gemstone zircon from Sri Lanka. Jöns Jacob Berzelius first isolated the impure metal in 1824.
Where does the name come from?
Zirconium is named after zircon, the gemstone mineral in which it was discovered in 1789. The word zircon is thought to come from the Persian zargun, meaning 'gold-colored', after the color of some stones.
Same group
Compare Zirconium
FAQ
What is the electron configuration of Zirconium?
The electron configuration of Zirconium (Zr) is [Kr] 4d2 5s2. Its 40 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 8, 18, 10, 2.
How many protons, neutrons and electrons does Zirconium have?
A neutral Zirconium atom has 40 protons and 40 electrons. Most Zirconium atoms have about 51 neutrons: the atomic mass rounded to 91, minus the atomic number 40.
How many valence electrons does Zirconium have?
Zirconium has 2 valence electrons, counting the electrons in its outermost s subshell. Like most transition metals, it can also use d electrons in bonding.
What is the molar mass of Zirconium?
The molar mass of Zirconium is 91.224 g/mol. This is the same number as its atomic mass, 91.224 u.
Is Zirconium a metal?
Yes. Zirconium is a transition metal, so it is a metal.
Is Zirconium radioactive?
Ordinary Zirconium is not radioactive: it has at least one stable isotope. Like every element, it also has radioactive isotopes, most of them made in laboratories.
Where is Zirconium on the periodic table?
Zirconium is element 40, in period 5 and group 4 of the periodic table, in the d-block.