Element 40
Zirconium
Transition metals
Zirconium (Zr) is in the d-block of the periodic table — group 4, period 5.
Zirconium is a chemical element with symbol Zr and atomic number 40.
Key data
- Atomic number
- 40
- Atomic mass
- 91.224 u
- Group / Period
- 4 / 5
- Block
- d-block
- Phase at STP
- Solid
- Density
- 6.52 g/cm³
- Melting point
- 1854.8 °C
- Boiling point
- 4376.9 °C
- Electron configuration
- [Kr] 4d2 5s2
Periodic table block
Zirconium is in the d-block (group 4, period 5). Elements land in the d-block when their highest-energy electrons fill a d subshell — these are the transition metals in the middle of the table.
New to this? Periodic table blocks explained: s, p, d, and f
Common uses
- •Nuclear fuel cladding
- •Artificial diamonds
- •Dental crowns
Discovery
Year: 1789
Discovered by: Martin Heinrich Klaproth
Frequently asked questions
What is the atomic number of Zirconium?
Zirconium has atomic number 40. Its symbol is Zr and its atomic mass is 91.224 u.
What category of element is Zirconium?
Zirconium is classified as transition metals. It sits in group 4, period 5 of the periodic table.
What block of the periodic table is Zirconium in?
Zirconium is in the d-block (group 4, period 5). Its highest-energy electrons occupy the d subshell — you can see this in its electron configuration, [Kr] 4d2 5s2.
What is Zirconium used for?
Common uses of Zirconium include: Nuclear fuel cladding, Artificial diamonds, Dental crowns.
When was Zirconium discovered?
Zirconium was discovered in 1789 by Martin Heinrich Klaproth.
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