More info:
Zirconium was identified in 1789 in the mineral zircon by Martin Heinrich Klaproth. While the name zircon is derived from the Arabic zargun, meaning gold-hued, zircon occurs in many colours. Zirconium has good strength at elevated temperatures and is resistant to corrosion by many acids, which lends to its use in nuclear reactor cores and where corrosive agents are involved. Oxides of Zirconium have high refraction index and rank high on the hardness scale and are therefore good gem materials. The oxides are also used for laboratory crucibles, furnaces and can be formed into ceramic knives. Zirconium compounds are used for medical applications in some dental implants and crowns, knee and hip replacements, and other prosthetic devices.
More info about the International Year of the Periodic Table (IYPT) in crystals project:
This project (#IYPTCrystals) is part of the International Year of the Periodic Table celebration (#IYPT2019), read more about the project here. You can follow us on social media using #IYPTCrystals and learn more about the wonders of crystals by following the CCDC on Twitter @ccdc_cambridge on Facebook ccdc.cambridge, on Instagram ccdc_cambridge or on YouTube CCDCCambridge.
If you want to find out more about some of the terms and concepts we have a Frequently Asked Questions Page.