Zirconium is one of the heavy metals and is assigned to the titanium group. It has very high corrosion resistance, good flexibility and is relatively soft. Zirconium is easy to roll, forge and hammer. It is a poor conductor of electricity but a relatively good conductor of heat. At high temperatures, zirconium reacts with most non-metals. It is stable in air as a result of passivation. The metal is resistant to acids. However, it is attacked by aqua regia and hydrofluoric acid even at room temperature. Zirconium is insensitive to aqueous bases. In finely divided form, zirconium exhibits pyrophoric properties. It is non-toxic and occurs in the body. The main area of application of zirconium is nuclear power. Casings for the uranium fuel elements are made from the Zircaloy alloy. The metal.