40
Room of the Elements · No. 40
Zirconium (Zr): what kind of element is it?
日本語
In short
Zirconium is element number 40, a metal with the symbol Zr. Its name comes from the gem zircon, which contains zirconium.
Atomic number 4091.22
ZrZirconiumジルコニウム (jirukoniumu)- Symbol
- Zr
- Atomic weight
- 91.22
- Place in the table
- Period 5 · Group 4
Atomic weight from the Chemical Society of Japan, “Table of Standard Atomic Weights with Four Significant Figures (2026)”.
A gem “shining like gold”
The name zircon goes back to a Persian word meaning “shining like gold,” after the color of the gem. Zirconium was discovered in 1789.
Zircon is a mineral made of zirconium, silicon and oxygen.
Where it sits on the table
Zirconium is in the fifth row of Group 4. Directly above it is titanium, and directly below it is hafnium.
Think about it
- Q1When might an element be named after a gem?
- Q2Which country today was Persia?
- Q3Zirconium and hafnium share a column. Do you think they are alike?
There is no single right answer. Talking it over with someone at home is a good way to learn.
Did you know? — Elements whose names come from Persian include zirconium and boron (“white”).