How Do We Get It? – Zirconium. Zirconium, a chemical element with the symbol Zr and atomic number 40, is notable for its high resistance to corrosion and high melting point. Its journey from discovery to commercial extraction reflects the evolution of chemistry and materials science. The discovery of zirconium can be traced back to the late 18th century, specifically to 1789 when the Swedish chemist Jöns Jacob Berzelius isolated zirconium oxide from the mineral zircon (ZrSiO4). Berzelius identified zircon as a distinct mineral and recognized its potential to yield a new element.
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