Zirconium nitrate

Zirconium nitrate is a volatile anhydrous transition metal nitrate of zirconium with formula Zr(NO3)4. It has alternate names of zirconium tetranitrate, or zirconium(IV) nitrate. Zirconium nitrate is a volatile anhydrous transition metal nitrate of zirconium with formula Zr(NO3)4. It has alternate names of zirconium tetranitrate, or zirconium(IV) nitrate. It has a UN number of UN 2728 and is class 5.1, meaning oxidising substance. Anhydrous Zirconium nitrate can be made from zirconium tetrachloride reacting with dinitrogen pentoxide. ZrCl4 + 4 N2O5 → Zr(NO3)4 + 4ClNO2 The product can be purified by sublimation in a vacuum. A contaminating substance in this is nitronium pentanitratozirconate. (NO2)Zr(NO3)5. Zirconium nitrate pentahydrate Zr(NO3)4.5H2O can be formed by dissolving zirconium dioxide in nitric acid and then evaporating the solution until it is dry. However it is easier to crystallise zirconyl nitrate trihydrate ZrO(NO3)2.3H2O from such a solution. Zirconium is highly resistant to nitric acid even in the presence of other impurities and high temperatures. So zirconium nitrate is not made by dissolving zirconium metal in nitric acid. Zirconium nitrate pentahydrate dissolves easily in water and alcohol. In water it is acidic. The pentahydrate crystals have a refractive index of 1.6. In water solution a base such as ammonium hydroxide will cause zirconium hydroxide to precipitate.