Zirconium
TRANSITION METAL
Bohr Model: Electrons arranged in energy shells around the nucleus.
Zirconium is a chemical element with symbol Zr and atomic number 40. The name of zirconium is taken from the name of the mineral zircon, the most important source of zirconium. The word zircon comes from the Persian word zargun زرگون, meaning "gold-colored".
Quick Facts
Atomic Number 40
Period 5
Group 4
Phase Solid
Appearance silvery white
About Transition Metals
Transition metals are elements with partially filled d-orbitals. They are hard, have high melting points, and often form colored compounds.
History
Discovered By Martin Heinrich Klaproth
Named By Unknown
Physical Properties
Atomic Mass 91.2242
Density 6.52 g/L
Molar Heat 25.36 J/(mol·K)
Phase Transition (Melting & Boiling Points)
Zirconium melts at 2128 K and boils at 4650 K.
Atomic Properties
Electron Config [Kr] 4d2 5s2
Electronegativity 1.33
Electron Affinity 41.806 kJ/mol
Ionization Energy 640.1 kJ/mol
Orbital Filling Diagram
This diagram visualizes electron configuration according to the Aufbau principle and Hund's rule.
Boxes represent orbitals (s, p, d, f), while arrows indicate electrons with spin up or down.
Electrons fill lower energy levels first and occupy orbitals singly before pairing.
Photograph
External Resources
Study Guide
Atomic Number
The number of protons in the nucleus, which defines the element.
Atomic Mass
The average mass of an atom, including protons and neutrons.
Electronegativity
A measure of how strongly an atom attracts electrons in a bond.
Ionization Energy
The energy required to remove an electron from an atom.
Electron Config
The arrangement of electrons in the atom's energy shells.