home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- Name : Zirconium
- Symbol : Zr
- Atomic # : 40
- Atom weight: 91.22
- Melting P. : 1852
- Boiling P. : 4377
- Oxidation : +4
- Pronounced : zer-KO-ni-em
- From : Named for the mineral, zircon
- Identified : Martin Heinrich Klaproth in 1789
- Appearance : Gray-white, lustrous, corrosion-resistant metal
- Note : Extremely similar to hafnium
-
- [Properties]
-
- Zirconium reacts with the oxygen and nitrogen in the atmosphere to form
- a protective film that prevents further corrosion of the metal. This is not
- to say that zirconium is a metal that is prone to destruction by natural
- elements, though. On the contrary, zirconium, even without its protective
- film of oxide and nitride, is resistant to weak acids. It is, in fact,
- known in industry as a tough, corrosion-resistant metal that is suitable
- for use in high-performance pumps and valves.
- Zirconium becomes superconductive when alloyed with niobium.
-