zirconium

views updated Jun 11 2018

zirconium (symbol Zr) Greyish-white, metallic element, one of the transition elements. Zirconium was first discovered (1789) by the German chemist Martin Klaproth, and its chief source is zircon. Lunar rocks collected during the Apollo space missions show a higher content of zirconium than Earth ones, and zirconium exists in meteorites and stars, including the Sun. Chemically similar to titanium, it is used in ceramics, and in alloys for wire and absorption of neutrons in nuclear reactors. Properties: at.no. 40; r.a.m. 91.22; r.d. 6.51; m.p. 1852°C (3366°F); b.p. 4377°C (7911°F); most common isotope Zr⁹⁰ (51.46%).

World Encyclopedia

Zr

views updated May 14 2018

Zr • symb. the chemical element zirconium.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

ZR

views updated Jun 11 2018

ZR Irish vehicle registration for Wexford

The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH

Zr

views updated May 18 2018

Zr Chem., symbol for zirconium

The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH