Chapter 6  The Genetic Material. The Basic Requirements for Genetic Material (i.e., the material that determines the inherited characteristics of a functional organism): 1  It must be stable.  It must be capable of being expressed when needed.
- In the manufacture of metal or alloys. Toxicology : Zirconium compounds are generally considered to be of low toxicity. Skin : Granulomata have been produced by repeated topical applications of zirconium salts to human skin.
Zirconium is very poor at absorbing neutrons. It is therefore useful in nuclear energy applications such as in the cladding (outer layer) of fuel rods through which it is important that neutrons can travel easily. Zirconium is used as to make surgical instruments and is used in steel alloys as a hardening agent. As a result of its exceptional corrosion resistance, zirconium is used extensively in the chemical industry in corrosive environments where zirconiumâs alloys can be found in pipes, fittings and heat exchangers.