Producing zirconium oxynitrate from zirconium metal presents challenges, particularly with traditional methods like dissolution in nitric acid or hydrochloric acid, which have proven ineffective. Aqua regia is suggested as a viable alternative for dissolving zirconium, with the process involving repeated reduction to dryness and the addition of fresh nitric acid to achieve the desired compound, ZrO(NO3)2 x nH2O. Another method involves dissolving zirconium in molten sodium hydroxide, which generates hydrogen gas, followed by treatment with diluted nitric acid to avoid chloride contamination. Additionally, hydrolyzing the solution can yield fresh zirconium dioxide, which can be easily dissolved in acids if processed promptly. The discussion emphasizes the importance of finding cost-effective methods for synthesizing zirconium compounds.
