Zirconium sulfate, is a chemical compound that contains the elements zirconium

Zirconium

Zirconium is a chemical element with the symbol Zr and atomic number 40. The name of zirconium is taken from the mineral zircon. Its atomic mass is 91.224. It is a lustrous, grey-white, strong transition metal that resembles titanium...

, sulfur

Sulfur

Sulfur or sulphur is the chemical element with atomic number 16. In the periodic table it is represented by the symbol S. It is an abundant, multivalent non-metal. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms form cyclic octatomic molecules with chemical formula S8. Elemental sulfur is a bright yellow...

 and oxygen

Oxygen

Oxygen is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γενής , because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition...

.

Uses

Zirconium sulfate is used in tanning white leather

Leather

Leather is a durable and flexible material created via the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin, primarily cattlehide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.-Forms:...

, as a catalyst support, to precipitate proteins and amino acids, and as a pigment

Pigment

A pigment is a material that changes the color of reflected or transmitted light as the result of wavelength-selective absorption. This physical process differs from fluorescence, phosphorescence, and other forms of luminescence, in which a material emits light.Many materials selectively absorb...

 stabilizer.

Preparation

Zirconium sulfate is prepared by the action of sulfuric acid

Sulfuric acid

Sulfuric acid is a strong mineral acid with the molecular formula . Its historical name is oil of vitriol. Pure sulfuric acid is a highly corrosive, colorless, viscous liquid. The salts of sulfuric acid are called sulfates...

 on zirconium hydroxide:

Zr(OH)₄ + 2H₂SO₄ → Zr(SO₄)₂ + 4H₂O

Also, it is prepared by treating zirconyl chloride

Zirconyl chloride

Zirconyl chloride is the inorganic compound with the formula [Zr41216]Cl812. Zirconyl chloride is a misnomer because the compound contains no oxide groups, but the term is widely used. This salt, a white solid, is the most common water-soluble derivative of zirconium.-Production and structure:The...

with hot concentrated sulfuric acid:

ZrOCl₂ + 2H₂SO₄ → Zr(SO₄)₂ + H₂O + 2HCl