that he had found a new element, zircon earth or zirconia.
Humphry Davy failed to reduce the oxide to a metal
using electrolysis in 1808
but gave it the name zirconium.
Jöns Jacob Berzelius heated potassium hexafluorozirconate
with potassium metal in an iron tube
to obtain a black powder of impure zirconium.
Atomic number 40
Beware: Dust or small grains of zirconium
can ignite on warm days.
Zirconium oxide is used in strong ceramics
to resist heat and corrosion.
Zirconium makes a good radiation shield
used in nuclear-powered ships and subs.
Cut cubic zirconium (zirconium oxide)
resemble diamonds.
Leshem, Liguria
The seventh stone on the hoshen,
the breastplate of judgment
The tribe of Dan, the eagle
The color of smoke,
possibly blue or black,
or dark red, like carbuncle
The color of sparks in smoke
The gem named with a lost Hebrew word
maybe based on a place, also lost
The decay of trace amounts of uranium and thorium in zircons
have helped date the oldest rocks on earth.
We also look for traces of more recent things.
The decay of trace amounts of uranium and thorium in zircons have helped date the oldest rocks on earth. We also look for traces of more recent things.
See also in The book of science:
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