Atomic / phase data
Reference atomic and phase values are source-reviewed.
Material structure
The ordinary elemental structure is measured; the viewer is a teaching representation.
Element vs material uses
Uses distinguish elemental metal from compounds, alloys, dopants or medical formulations.
Geography
Discovery/supply context is selective and does not fabricate deposits or facilities.
The lens describes evidence status, not confidence theatre. “Unknown” is kept unknown, and teaching schematics are not presented as direct measurements.
Zirconium (Zr)
Zirconium is element 40, a corrosion-resistant Group 4 metal whose low neutron-capture cross section, HCP-to-BCC phase transition and stable oxide chemistry connect the periodic table to nuclear cladding, ceramics and high-temperature materials.
Zirconium atomic number, mass, electron configuration and key properties
Zirconium: quick answers
How many protons, neutrons and electrons does zirconium have?
Zirconium’s atomic number is 40, so every zirconium atom has 40 protons, and a neutral atom also has 40 electrons. Its most common natural isotope, zirconium-90, has 50 neutrons (other isotopes have different neutron counts).
What is the symbol for zirconium?
The chemical symbol for zirconium is Zr.
Is zirconium a solid, liquid or gas at room temperature?
Zirconium is a solid at room temperature (about 25 °C).
What family (group) is zirconium in?
Zirconium is a transition metal, in group 4, period 5 of the periodic table.
What is the electron configuration of zirconium?
The ground-state electron configuration of zirconium is [Kr] 4d² 5s².
From atomic number to chemistry
Read these as a chain of causes, not as isolated facts. Each step links to the concept hub if you want the underlying idea explained.
40 protons define zirconium.
The ground-state configuration frames atomic and chemical behavior.
Periodic position organizes recurring chemistry and trends.
The teaching nucleus is one isotope, not the relative atomic mass.
Phase claims preserve source-reviewed evidence and allotrope context.
Zirconium in its period and family
Zirconium is the Period 5 Group 4 homologue of titanium. Four valence electrons support dominant +4 chemistry, while its metal shows a temperature-driven HCP-to-BCC transformation.
Zirconium Visual Lab
Explore Zr across the teaching nucleus, isolated-atom orbitals, evidence-aware material structure and temperature/evidence views, then connect those models to uses, isotopes, search-led questions and source-backed context.
Every mark points to one exact feature
The numbered markers explain the same information system used throughout Element Lookup. Unknown or predicted fields remain visibly labelled rather than being replaced with guesses.
Zirconium in one minute
Atomic number 40 means 40 protons.
Neutral Zirconium has [Kr] 4d² 5s².
Its representative teaching isotope is ⁹⁰Zr.
Zirconium metal, zircon (a silicate mineral) and zirconia (ZrO₂) are not interchangeable names.
The ordinary material reference is hcp α-zr near room temperature; bcc β-zr at high temperature.
Shell rings organize electron counts. They are not electron trajectories or orbital shapes.
2 · 8 · 18 · 10 · 2 electrons
The 4d_z2, 4d_xy, 5s visuals are isolated-atom probability teaching models. They do not depict electron bands, bonding orbitals or the crystal electronic structure of Zirconium materials.
α-zirconium is HCP near room temperature and transforms to BCC β-zirconium at high temperature. The structure viewer shows α-Zr; the phase track marks the solid-solid transition.. The viewer is evidence-aware: measured structures are identified as such; unknown bulk structures stay unknown.
Teaching visualization; not a literal finite sample or thermal trajectory.What this model does—and does not—show
The 4d_z2, 4d_xy, 5s visuals are isolated-atom probability teaching models. They do not depict electron bands, bonding orbitals or the crystal electronic structure of Zirconium materials.
Where do I meet zirconium?
Clickable learning cards connect the element to materials, environment, technology, biology or research - depending on what the evidence actually supports.
Nuclear cladding
Zirconium alloys combine corrosion resistance with low neutron absorption for reactor fuel cladding.
α-Zr → β-Zr → low-neutron cladding
Zirconium metal, zircon (a silicate mineral) and zirconia (ZrO₂) are not interchangeable names. Their structures and applications differ even though each contains zirconium atoms.
α-Zr HCP
Room-temperature zirconium uses an HCP structure.
Zirconium in periodic context
Compare nearby or family-related elements without treating a trend as a substitute for element-specific evidence.
| Group | 4 |
|---|---|
| Structure | HCP room |
| Group | 4 |
|---|---|
| Structure | HCP room |
| Group | 4 |
|---|---|
| Period | 6 |
Zirconium properties: atomic, physical, thermal and chemical
Categories follow the science of this element rather than a fixed decorative template. Each row carries condition/provenance context and an evidence label; unknown values stay unknown.
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atomic number | 40 | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Relative atomic mass | 91.224 | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Ground-state electron configuration | [Kr] 4d² 5s² | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Group / period / block | Group 4 · Period 5 · d-block | Periodic-table placement | Evaluated |
| Electronegativity | 1.33 | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Reference isotope | ⁹⁰Zr | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| State context | Gray-white corrosion-resistant metal | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Density | 6.52 g/cm³ | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Material / molecular structure | HCP α-Zr near room temperature; BCC β-Zr at high temperature | α-zirconium is HCP near room temperature and transforms to BCC β-zirconium at high temperature. The structure viewer shows α-Zr; the phase track marks the solid-solid transition. | Measured |
| Classification | Transition metal | Periodic-table / chemistry classification | Evaluated |
| Structure-model scope | α-zirconium is HCP near room temperature and transforms to BCC β-zirconium at high temperature. The structure viewer shows α-Zr; the phase track marks the solid-solid transition. | Teaching visualization; exact crystallographic coordinates are not implied unless stated. | Reviewed |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting / transition reference | 2127 K | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Boiling / gas reference | 4679 K | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Phase-path context | At approximately standard pressure, α-Zr is HCP up to about 1136 K, β-Zr is BCC from there to the 2127 K melting point, liquid zirconium extends to about 4679 K, then gas. | Shared phase registry drives the slider, regions and markers. | Evaluated |
| Condition warning | Temperature and pressure define phase behavior; purity/allotropy may matter. | Teaching condition statement | Reviewed |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary electrical behavior | Metallic conductor | Qualitative bulk behavior; exact resistivity depends on temperature, purity and alloy state. | Measured |
| Conduction model | Collective solid-state electrons | Do not interpret isolated-atom orbital clouds as literal current paths. | Reviewed |
| Surface / compound caveat | Oxides, salts and alloys can behave differently from the pure metal | Material context | Reviewed |
| Engineering values | Condition-dependent | Use condition-specific materials data for engineering calculations. | Reviewed |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common oxidation states | +4 | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Ion / common ion context | Zr⁴⁺ | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Periodic chemistry context | Zirconium is the Period 5 Group 4 homologue of titanium. Four valence electrons support dominant +4 chemistry, while its metal shows a temperature-driven HCP-to-BCC transformation. | Element-specific interpretation | Reviewed |
| Chemistry caution | Elemental form, ions and compounds are distinct chemical objects. | Interpretive teaching rule | Reviewed |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⁹⁰Zr | Stable natural isotope | Most abundant natural zirconium isotope. | Evaluated |
| ⁹¹Zr, ⁹²Zr, ⁹⁴Zr | Stable natural isotopes | Contribute to natural zirconium. | Evaluated |
| ⁹⁶Zr | Very long-lived natural isotope | Radioactive on extremely long timescales. | Evaluated |
| Teaching nucleus | ⁹⁰Zr · 40 protons + 50 neutrons | Reference isotope used in the nucleus model | Reviewed |
Is Zirconium a solid, liquid or gas? State at temperature
At approximately standard pressure, α-Zr is HCP up to about 1136 K, β-Zr is BCC from there to the 2127 K melting point, liquid zirconium extends to about 4679 K, then gas.
Where on Earth is Zirconium found or produced?
Who discovered Zirconium, and when?
Martin Heinrich Klaproth recognized zirconium in zircon mineral material.
Jöns Jacob Berzelius prepared an impure metallic form.
The van Arkel-de Boer process enabled much purer zirconium metal.
Zirconium alloys became important in nuclear and chemical-process materials.
From source material to Zirconium applications: high-level material path
Zircon minerals are beneficiated as mineral feedstock; zirconium and hafnium are chemically similar and may require separation for nuclear-grade applications.
Refining produces zirconium compounds or high-purity metal feedstocks.
Alloying/forming creates zirconium tubes, sheets or components; oxidation produces zirconia ceramics in different pathways.
Nuclear-grade quality control focuses on composition and neutron-absorption requirements; no process recipe is provided.
What is zirconium used for?
Nuclear technology
Zirconium alloys are used in fuel cladding and reactor components.
Ceramics
Zirconia is used in thermal, structural and dental ceramics.
Chemical equipment
Corrosion-resistant zirconium serves selected process equipment.
Alloys & research
Zr additions and intermetallics support specialized high-temperature materials.
Zirconium isotopes and natural abundance
⁹⁰Zr
Stable natural isotopeMost abundant natural zirconium isotope.
⁹¹Zr, ⁹²Zr, ⁹⁴Zr
Stable natural isotopesContribute to natural zirconium.
⁹⁶Zr
Very long-lived natural isotopeRadioactive on extremely long timescales.
Five-question Zirconium check
What is Zirconium’s atomic number?
Which classification best fits Zirconium?
What is the representative teaching isotope?
Which statement respects the material evidence?
Which rule should guide real-world uses?
Zirconium questions students commonly ask
Each answer starts with the direct fact, then explains the chemistry, evidence or material context so the result is understandable rather than merely memorized.
What is zirconium?
Short answer: Zirconium is chemical element 40, a Group 4 transition metal.
Atomic number 40 means every zirconium nucleus contains 40 protons. In the periodic table, Zirconium is classified here as a transition metal in Period 5 and Group 4. Zirconium is the Period 5 Group 4 homologue of titanium. Four valence electrons support dominant +4 chemistry, while its metal shows a temperature-driven HCP-to-BCC transformation.
Key point: Zr is element 40; its periodic position and electron structure explain the rest of the page.
Is zirconium a metal?
Short answer: Yes. It is a gray-white, corrosion-resistant metal.
This guide classifies Zirconium as a transition metal. Its periodic position is Period 5, d-block, Group 4. Zirconium is the Period 5 Group 4 homologue of titanium. Four valence electrons support dominant +4 chemistry, while its metal shows a temperature-driven HCP-to-BCC transformation.
Key point: Periodic-table classification describes recurring atomic/chemical behavior; it does not make every element in a column physically identical.
What is zirconium used for?
Short answer: Major uses include zirconium alloys in nuclear systems and zirconium compounds such as zirconia in ceramics.
Nuclear technology: Zirconium alloys are used in fuel cladding and reactor components. Ceramics: Zirconia is used in thermal, structural and dental ceramics. Zirconium metal, zircon (a silicate mineral) and zirconia (ZrO₂) are not interchangeable names. Their structures and applications differ even though each contains zirconium atoms.
Key point: Always distinguish the pure element from the compound, alloy, isotope or device material that actually performs the application.
Is zircon the same as zirconium?
Short answer: No. Zircon is the mineral zirconium silicate, ZrSiO₄; zirconium is the element.
Zirconium metal, zircon (a silicate mineral) and zirconia (ZrO₂) are not interchangeable names. Their structures and applications differ even though each contains zirconium atoms. Nuclear technology Zirconium alloys are used in fuel cladding and reactor components.
Key point: The pure element, its ions, compounds and alloys are different materials and should not be treated as interchangeable.
Who discovered zirconium?
Short answer: Martin Heinrich Klaproth identified the element in zircon mineral material in 1789.
In 1789, Martin Heinrich Klaproth recognized zirconium in zircon mineral material. In 1824, Jöns Jacob Berzelius prepared an impure metallic form.
Key point: Discovery credit follows the historical evidence and accepted attribution, not just the earliest claim.
How many neutrons are in zirconium-90?
Short answer: ⁹⁰Zr has 40 protons and 50 neutrons.
The page’s teaching nucleus is ⁹⁰Zr, which contains 40 protons and 50 neutrons. Other isotopes of Zirconium keep the same 40 protons but have different neutron counts.
Key point: Neutron count is isotope-specific.
What is zirconium’s symbol?
Short answer: Zr.
The symbol Zr is the standardized chemical abbreviation for element 40. In a chemical formula, Zr identifies zirconium atoms; a compound containing Zr is not automatically the same material as elemental zirconium.
Key point: Zr always identifies element 40.
Scientific sources for Zirconium
- Royal Society of Chemistry - Zirconium
- NIST - Atomic Weights and Isotopic Compositions
- IAEA - Zirconium alloy materials context
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