Zirconium vs Niobium

Side-by-side comparison of Zirconium (Zr, element 40) and Niobium (Nb, element 41) by atomic structure and physical properties.

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PropertyZr Zirconium Nb Niobium
Atomic number4041
SymbolZrNb
NameZirconiumNiobium
Categorytransition-metaltransition-metal
Standard Atomic Weight91.222 u92.90637 u
Period55
Group45
Blockdd
Phase at STPSolidSolid
Electron configuration[Kr]4d25s2[Kr]4d45s1
Oxidation states[1, 2, 3, 4][-3, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Electronegativity (Pauling)1.331.6
Electron affinity0.43328 eV0.9174 eV
Density6520 kg/m³8570 kg/m³
Melting point1854.85 °C2476.85 °C
Boiling point4408.85 °C4743.85 °C
Discovery year17891801

Key Differences

PropertyZr ZirconiumNb Niobium
Standard Atomic Weight91.222 u ↓ lower92.90637 u ↑ higher
Density6520 kg/m³ ↓ lower8570 kg/m³ ↑ higher
Melting point1854.85 °C ↓ lower2476.85 °C ↑ higher
Boiling point4408.85 °C ↓ lower4743.85 °C ↑ higher
Electronegativity (Pauling)1.33 ↓ lower1.6 ↑ higher
Electron affinity0.43328 eV ↓ lower0.9174 eV ↑ higher
Group4 5
Electron configuration[Kr]4d25s2 [Kr]4d45s1
Discovery year1789 1801