Zirconium Facts for Kids

Zirconium is a special kind of chemical element that is also a metal. It looks greyish-white, a bit like silver. You can find it on the periodic table of elements, where its atomic number is 40. Its short symbol is Zr.

Zirconium is very useful because it's strong and doesn't easily react with other things, especially at high temperatures. This makes it perfect for some important jobs.

What is Zirconium?
What is Zirconium Used For?
- Protecting Nuclear Fuel
- Other Uses of Zirconium
Related Elements
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What is Zirconium?

Zirconium is a shiny, greyish-white metal. It's known for being very strong and resistant to corrosion, which means it doesn't rust or get damaged easily. It's also quite light.

Scientists use the periodic table to organize all the known elements. Zirconium is number 40 on this table. Each element has a unique symbol, and for Zirconium, it's Zr.

Zirconium, crystal bar

What is Zirconium Used For?

Zirconium is used in many different ways because of its special properties. One of its most important uses is in nuclear power plants.

Protecting Nuclear Fuel

In nuclear power plants, Zirconium is used to make the outer layer, called "cladding," for nuclear fuel rods. Think of it like a protective sleeve. These rods contain special fuel that creates a lot of heat. Zirconium is great for this job because it can handle very high temperatures and doesn't absorb too many neutrons, which are tiny particles inside atoms. This helps keep the nuclear reactions safe and working well.

Other Uses of Zirconium

Besides nuclear power, Zirconium is also used in:

Making special ceramics and glass that can withstand high heat.
Creating strong alloys (mixtures of metals) for things like chemical equipment and surgical tools.
Some types of jewelry and even in certain types of fireworks to make bright sparks.

Periodic table