| Reactions of Zirconium |
 Reactions with water |
| Zirconium does not react with water under normal conditions. |
| Reactions with air |
| Zirconium is coated with an oxide layer that usually renders it inactive. However zirconium does burn in air if provoked to
form zirconium(IV) oxide, ZrO2.
|
Zr(s) + O2(g) ZrO2(s) |
| Reactions with halogens |
| Zirconium does react with the halogens, upon warming, to form zirconium(IV) halides. |
| Zr(s) + 2F2(g)ZrF4(s) |
| Zr(s) + 2Cl2(g)ZrCl4(s) |
| Zr(s) + 2Br2(g)ZrBr4(s) |
| Zr(s) + 2I2(g)ZrI4(s) |
| Reactions with acids |
| Zirconium metal is coated with an oxide layer that usually renders it inactive. Most cold mineral acids have little effect.
Zirconium does dissolve in hydrofluoric acid, HF, presumably to form fluoro complexes.
|
| Reactions with bases |
| Zirconium does not appear to react wih alkalis under normal conditions, even when hot. |
Zr(s)