Abstract: Zirconium silica hydrogels are disclosed including at least about 5 wt. % water bound as a hydrate and including silicon as SiO.sub.2 in amounts of from 60 to 99 wt. % and zirconium as ZrO.sub.2 in amounts of from 1 to 40 wt. %, and where substantially all of the zirconium is bound to the SiO.sub.2 in the hydrogel. Hydrophobic zirconium silica hydrogels are also disclosed in which a hydrophobic component, such as organosiloxanes, organosilanes, primary and secondary higher aliphatic alcohols, and long chain amines, are bound to the surface of the hydrogel, and in which the zirconium is present in amounts sufficient to improve the stability of the hydrogels. Methods of manufacturing these zirconium silica hydrogels are also disclosed.