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".
Three reasons Zirconium stands out
- 1
Used in nuclear reactors and very resistant to corrosion and heat.
- 2
Its dioxide is used as an affordable diamond substitute in jewellery, sold as cubic zirconia.
- 3
It is used to make high-performance ceramic knives that hold an edge far longer than steel.
Nuclear transparency in a corrosion-proof metal
Zirconium withstands aggressive chemicals and barely absorbs neutrons, a rare combination that suits nuclear-reactor fuel cladding. The metal must be separated meticulously from hafnium, which occurs beside it but captures neutrons strongly. Cubic zirconia is zirconium dioxide, not metallic zirconium.