Quick Facts
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Symbol | V |
| Atomic Number | 23 |
| Atomic Mass | 50.942 u |
| Category | Transition Metal |
| Period | 4 |
| Group | 5 |
| Block | d |
| Electron Configuration | [Ar] 3d³ 4s² |
Physical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| State at 20°C | Solid |
| Density | 6.11 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 1910°C (2183 K) |
| Boiling Point | 3407°C (3680 K) |
| Appearance | Steel-gray, bluish tint |
Atomic Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Electron Configuration | [Ar] 3d³ 4s² |
| Electronegativity | 1.63 (Pauling scale) |
| First Ionization Energy | 650.9 kJ/mol |
| Atomic Radius | 134 pm |
| Covalent Radius | 153 pm |
| Van der Waals Radius | 179 pm |
History and Discovery
Discovered by: Andrés Manuel del Río and Nils Gabriel Sefström Year of Discovery: 1801 (del Río), 1830 (Sefström) Location: Mexico City, Mexico and Stockholm, Sweden
Etymology
Named after Vanadis, the Scandinavian goddess of beauty and fertility (another name for Freyja), due to the beautiful multicolored compounds vanadium forms.
Discovery Story
Andrés Manuel del Río discovered vanadium in 1801 in Mexican lead ore and called it "erythronium." He was later convinced it was just chromium and retracted his claim. Nils Gabriel Sefström rediscovered it in 1830 in Swedish iron ore and named it vanadium. Henry Roscoe first isolated pure vanadium in 1867.
Isotopes
| Isotope | Natural Abundance | Half-life | Decay Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⁵⁰V | 0.25% | 1.4 × 10¹⁷ years | β⁺, β⁻ |
| ⁵¹V | 99.75% | Stable | - |
Occurrence
Natural Abundance
Vanadium is the 20th most abundant element in Earth's crust (about 120 ppm). It is widely distributed but rarely concentrated. Found in magnetite, carnotite, and vanadinite ores. Also recovered from crude oil and coal ash.
Extraction and Production
- From Steel Slag: Major source—vanadium concentrates in steel production waste
- From Ore: Processing of vanadinite and carnotite
- From Petroleum: Recovered from residues
- Global production: about 90,000 tons annually (as vanadium pentoxide equivalent)
Applications and Uses
Steel and Alloys
- High-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel
- Tool steels and high-speed steels
- Titanium-aluminum-vanadium alloys (aerospace)
- Spring steels
Energy Storage
- Vanadium redox flow batteries (grid-scale storage)
- Increasing importance for renewable energy
Chemical Industry
- Sulfuric acid production catalyst
- Oxidation catalysts
- Ceramics and glass colorants
Other Uses
- Superconducting magnets (vanadium-gallium alloys)
- Nuclear applications
Biological Role
Vanadium is an essential trace element for some organisms, and possibly for humans in very small amounts.
In the Human Body
- Trace amounts present (about 0.1 mg)
- May influence glucose metabolism
- May affect thyroid function
- Not definitively established as essential
In Other Organisms
- Essential for some marine organisms (tunicates accumulate vanadium)
- Found in certain nitrogen-fixing bacteria
Dietary Sources
Mushrooms, shellfish, black pepper, and parsley contain vanadium.
Safety and Hazards
Toxicity
Vanadium compounds can be toxic, particularly vanadium pentoxide dust. Chronic exposure affects the respiratory system.
Handling Precautions
- Vanadium pentoxide dust is respiratory hazard
- Use appropriate respiratory protection
- Can cause green discoloration of tongue (chronic exposure)
- Follow occupational exposure limits
Environmental Impact
Vanadium from burning fossil fuels can contribute to air pollution. Vanadium in soil can affect plant growth at high concentrations.
Interesting Facts
- Vanadium was discovered twice—first in Mexico, then rediscovered in Sweden
- Vanadium compounds display a beautiful range of colors depending on oxidation state
- Henry Ford used vanadium steel in the Model T, making it lighter and stronger
- Some sea squirts (tunicates) concentrate vanadium to 10 million times the seawater level
- The Chrysler Building in New York contains vanadium steel