Preparation and Properties of Zirconium
Description: Zirconium (s) is dried under nitrogen for approximately three days. The powder is placed in an air free vial and presented in the following method. The powder is sprinkled onto a hot plate on high heat. The powder combines with oxygen from the air to form Zirconium Oxide(s). The process is highly exothermic and emits an intense yellow orange light. The temperature of this reaction exceeds 2000˚C.
Δ
Zr(s) +O2(g) →ZrO2(s) + Heat
Source: Maynard, James
Year: 2010 Vol: N/A Page: N/A
Keywords: Zirconium, Exothermic, Emission spectrum, Oxidation
Rating: 
Hazard: High
- Electric shock hazard
- Burn hazard
- Asphyxiation hazard
- Flammability hazard
- Use of highly reactive oxidizers or reducing agent
- Unstable, highly exothermic reducing agent
Effectiveness: Excellent
- Results are deeply engaging to audience
- Contrast between systems is obvious
- Spectacular or counter intuitive effects are seen by audience
- Superior reliability
- Time to results is low
Difficulty: High
- Use of air sensitive systems or reagents
- Use of flammable reagents
- Demos require training or extended practice
- Reactions at extreme non-standard conditions
Safety Precautions:
- Eye protection required
- Thermal gloves required
- Use of UL approved three-prong plug and outlet
- Class D Fire extinguisher on hand
- Use of thermally resistant surface required
- No flammable materials on the lecture bench during lecture experiments
Class: Transition Metals, Redox
Division: Inorganic Chemistry
Inorganic Chemistry Demos