Zirconium Basic Chemical Properties

Assignment.1Chemical properties Assignment.2Interaction with other elements Assignment.3Limiting reagent reaction with oxygen Assignment.4Electronegativity and bonds Table of Contents

Chemical properties Atomic SymbolZr Atomic Number40 Atomic Mass91.22 (avg.) FamilyTransition Metal Group4 Period5 Physical state at room temperatureSolid Density at room temperature6.49 g.cm -3 ColorSilver-grey Most common isotopes: 90 Zr 91 Zr 92 Zr 94 Zr 96 Zr

Assignment.1Chemical properties Assignment.2Interaction with other elements Assignment.3Limiting reagent reaction with oxygen Assignment.4Electronegativity and bonds

Interactions with other elements When combined with oxygen, zirconium will form into zirconium dioxide, better known as zirconia Zr(s) + O 2 (g) → ZrO 2 (s) With various nitrate salts: ZrNO 3 (aq) + NaCl(aq) → NaNO 3 (aq) + ZrCl(s) ZrNO 3 (aq) + NaOH(aq) → NaNO 3 (aq) + ZrOH(s) ZrNO 3 (aq) + Na 2 S(aq) → NaNO 3 (aq) + ZrS 2 (s) ZrNO 3 (aq) + Na 2 SO 4 (aq) → NaNO 3 (aq) + ZrSO 4 (s) ZrNO 3 (aq) + Na 3 PO 4 (aq) → NaNO 3 (aq) + ZrPO 4 (s)

Assignment.1Chemical properties Assignment.2Interaction with other elements Assignment.3Limiting reagent reaction with oxygen Assignment.4Electronegativity and bonds

Limiting reagent reaction with oxygen As zirconium has a greater atomic mass than oxygen, when creating zirconium dioxide, the zirconium becomes the limiting reagent within the reaction. If the two elements are combined with an equal weight of 100 grams each are combined, there will be roughly one zirconium molecule present for three sets of O 2. Zr(s) + O 2 (g) → ZrO 2 (s) Zirconium 100.0g____ 91.22g/mol 1.09 mol x 6.022x x10 23 molecules Zr Oxygen 100.0g___ 16.0g/mol 6.25 mol x 6.022x x10 24 molecules O 2

Assignment.1Chemical properties Assignment.2Interaction with other elements Assignment.3Limiting reagent reaction with oxygen Assignment.4Electronegativity and bonds

Electronegativity and bonds Zirconium has an electronegativity of 1.3 on the Pauling scale, and based on its willingness to donate electrons while bonding in a compound, it often forms polar covalent bonds. There are five common isotopes of zirconium, 4 of which are completely stable ( 90 Zr, 91 Zr, 92 Zr, 94 Zr), and 96 Zr which has a half life of 2.35× years. While we will never see the exact process of 96 Zr’s reduction, it is expected that it will undergo a beta decay and change to the element niobium. Many more isotopes have been artificially created, with a substantially shorter half life. Most of these decay within seconds through electron capture.