Zirconium(IV) silicate
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Zirconium(IV) silicate
Systematic IUPAC name
Zirconium(4+) silicate
Other names
Zircon

Zirconium(4+) orthosilicate

Zirconium(IV) orthosilicate
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.030.216
EC Number
  • 233-252-7
MeSH Zircon
UNII
  • InChI=1S/O4Si.Zr/c1-5(2,3)4;/q-4;+4 ☒N
    Key: GFQYVLUOOAAOGM-UHFFFAOYSA-N ☒N
  • [Zr+4].[O-][Si]([O-])([O-])[O-]
Properties
O4SiZr
Molar mass 183.305 g·mol−1
Appearance Colourless crystals
Density 4.56 g cm−3
Melting point 1,540 °C (2,800 °F; 1,810 K) (decomposes)
Structure
tetragonal
Thermochemistry
98.3 J/mol K
−2044 kJ/mol
Hazards
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamond
1
0
1
Flash point Non-flammable
Safety data sheet (SDS) MSDS
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
☒N verify (what is checkY☒N ?)
Infobox references

Zirconium silicate, also zirconium orthosilicate, ZrSiO4, is a chemical compound, a silicate of zirconium. It occurs in nature as zircon, a silicate mineral. Powdered zirconium silicate is also known as zircon flour.

Zirconium silicate is usually colorless, but impurities induce various colorations. It is insoluble in water, acids, alkali and aqua regia. Hardness is 7.5 on the Mohs scale.[1]

Structure and bonding

Zircon consists of 8-coordinated Zr4+ centers linked to tetrahedral orthosilicate SiO44- sites. The oxygen atoms are all triply bridging, each with the environment OZr2Si. Given its highly crosslinked structure, the material is hard, and hence prized as gemstone and abrasive.

Zr(IV) is a d0 ion. Consequently the material is colorless and diamagnetic.

Production

Zirconium silicate occurs in nature as mineral zircon. Concentrated sources of zircon are rare. It is mined from sand deposits and separated by gravity. Some sands contain a few percent of zircon.[2]

It can also be synthesized by fusion of SiO2 and ZrO2 in an arc furnace, or by reacting a zirconium salt with sodium silicate in an aqueous solution.

Uses

As of 1995, the annual consumption of zirconium silicate was nearly 1M tons. The major applications exploit its refractory nature and resistance to corrosion by alkali materials.[2] Two end-uses are for enamels, and ceramic glazes. In enamels and glazes it serves as an opacifier. It can be also present in some cements.

Another use of zirconium silicate is as beads for milling and grinding.

Thin films of zirconium silicate and hafnium silicate produced by chemical vapor deposition, most often MOCVD, can be used as a high-k dielectric as a replacement for silicon dioxide in semiconductors.[3]

Zirconium silicates have also been studied for potential use in medical applications. For example, ZS-9 is a zirconium silicate that was designed specifically to trap potassium ions over other ions throughout the gastrointestinal tract.[4]

Toxicity

Zirconium silicate is an abrasive irritant for skin and eyes. Chronic exposure to dust can cause pulmonary granulomas, skin inflammation, and skin granuloma.[5] However, there are no known adverse effects for normal, incidental ingestion.[6]

References

  1. ↑ P. Patnaik (2002). Handbook of inorganic chemicals. McGraw-Hill Professional. p. 1002. ISBN 0-07-049439-8.
  2. 1 2 Nielsen, Ralph (2000). "Zirconium and Zirconium Compounds". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. doi:10.1002/14356007.a28_543. ISBN 3527306730.
  3. ↑ Lide, David R. (1998). Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (87 ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. pp. 4–96. ISBN 0-8493-0594-2.
  4. ↑ "ZS Pharma Inc". www.zspharma.com. Archived from the original on March 14, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Zirconium silicate MSDS" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 11, 2006. Retrieved June 6, 2009.
  6. ↑ "Material Safety Data Sheet" (PDF). Agsco.com. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
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