A Visual Encyclopedia of the Periodic Table

76

Transition Metals

40 40 51

State: Solid

Zirconium Discovery: 1789

Zr

40

This element is named after the mineral

zircon, which means “golden” in Persian, a

reference to the golden-brown colour of its

crystals. The Swedish chemist Jacob Berzelius

was the first person to isolate pure zirconium, in

1824. Today, however, the element is mostly used

in the form of the compound zirconium dioxide,

or zirconia. Powdered zirconia is heated to produce

a hard glass-like ceramic, which is used to create

dental crowns and sharp ceramic knives.

Powdered zirconia also forms sparkling zirconia

crystals that look like diamonds.

Forms

Uses

This greyish-white pure

element is easy to shape.

These tough dental

crowns are made of a

zirconium-rich ceramic.

This zirconium-

filled bulb produces

a bright light.

Zircon cr ystals

Ceramic

knife

Camera flash from

the 1960s

This hard, non-metallic

blade does not require

frequent sharpening. contains cubic This ring^

zirconia crystals.

This dark brown colour

is caused by iron impurities.

refined^ in^ a^ laboratory

Bar^ of^ pure^ zirconium

Dental^ crowns Zirconia

crystal (^) rin
g
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