Transition metal

Valency of Zirconium (Zr)

Quick answer

The valency of Zirconium is 4 — it has 2 valence electrons, and it shares all four to complete its outer shell.

This is the fast lane: one page, one fact, zero digressions. Read the quick answer, check the table, and if your exam needs the full derivation, the sections below walk through it step by step — in Bangla and English, like every page here. Need the whole picture instead — history, characteristics, uses, exam questions? The full Zirconium page is one click away.

Counting the valence electrons

From the configuration [Kr] 4d^2 5s^2, Zirconium's outermost shell carries 2 electrons. For a d-block element the nearby inner "d" subshell can also lend electrons, which is where variable valency comes from.

Position check: Zirconium belongs to group 4 of the periodic table, period 5.

Valency vs valence electrons

Valence electrons are what you count (2 for Zirconium); valency is what the atom will do to complete its outer shell (4 here). Keep the two words straight and half the periodic-table chapter writes itself.

Students also ask

How do I find the valency of Zirconium from its group?

Zirconium sits in group 4; for this transition group the safe exam answer is its common valency, 4.

Why does Zirconium show a fixed valency?

Zirconium has 2 valence electrons and reaches a complete outer shell in one consistent way, so its valency stays fixed at 4.