40Zr91.224
Zirconium
Transition metalsHard, shiny metals that conduct heat and electricity well and often form coloured compounds.
[Kr] 4d² 5s²
- Atomic number
- 40
- Atomic mass
- 91.224
- Protons
- 40
- Neutrons
- 51 (most common)
- Electrons
- 40
- Shells
- 2, 8, 18, 10, 2
- State at 25 °C
- Solid
- Position
- Group 4, period 5
Proton (+)Neutron (0)Electron (−)
Discovered byMartin Heinrich Klaproth, 1789Martin Heinrich Klaproth: 3 elements
Klaproth found it in the gemstone zircon. Berzelius isolated the metal in 1824.
Did you know?
- Some zircon crystals are about 4.4 billion years old, among the oldest things on Earth.
- It barely absorbs neutrons, which makes it ideal inside reactors.
Where it's found
- Zircon in beach sands of Kerala and Tamil Nadu
What it's used for
- Nuclear fuel rod casings
- Ceramic knives
- Cubic zirconia, a diamond look-alike
Try it
There's no safe home experiment for Zirconium. Explore it with the animated atom above instead.