{"id":74,"date":"2020-04-08T15:01:44","date_gmt":"2020-04-08T15:01:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thechemicalelements.com\/?page_id=74"},"modified":"2023-08-16T10:08:14","modified_gmt":"2023-08-16T10:08:14","slug":"vanadium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thechemicalelements.com\/vanadium\/","title":{"rendered":"Vanadium (V)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Vanadium is a chemical element with the atomic number 23 in the periodic table. It\u2019s the 21<\/span>st<\/span> most plentiful metal found in the upper part of Earth\u2019s crust in a concentration of 100\u202fmg\u202fV kg<\/span>\u22121<\/span>. Being a member of a broader transition metals group of elements, vanadium has five valence electrons and adopts +3, +4, and +5 oxidation states.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mainly used in metal alloys for an added strength, wear resistance, and durability, vanadium is also present in the human body. As a trace mineral, element 23 is a part of some vitally important metabolic processes and enzymes that serve both heart and bone health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Chemical and Physical Properties of Vanadium<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Property<\/strong><\/td>Value<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
The symbol in the periodic table of elements<\/td>V<\/td><\/tr>
Atomic number<\/td>23<\/td><\/tr>
Atomic weight (mass)<\/td>50.9414 g.mol-1<\/td><\/tr>
Group number<\/td>5 (Transition metals)<\/td><\/tr>
Period<\/td>4 (d-block)<\/td><\/tr>
Color<\/td>A silvery gray-white metal<\/td><\/tr>
Physical state<\/td>Solid at 20\u00b0C<\/td><\/tr>
Half-life<\/td>From less than 55 nanoseconds to 1.5\u00d710^17 years<\/td><\/tr>
Electronegativity according to Pauling<\/td>1.6<\/td><\/tr>
Density<\/td>6.0 g.cm-3<\/td><\/tr>
Melting point<\/td>1910\u00b0C, 3470\u00b0F, 2183 K<\/td><\/tr>
Boiling point<\/td>3407\u00b0C, 6165\u00b0F, 3680 K<\/td><\/tr>
Van der Waals radius<\/td>0.134 nm<\/td><\/tr>
Ionic radius<\/td>0.074 nm (+3) ; 0.059 (+5)<\/td><\/tr>
Isotopes<\/td>24<\/td><\/tr>
Most characteristic isotope<\/td>51V<\/td><\/tr>
Electronic shell<\/td>[Ar]3d34s2<\/td><\/tr>
The energy of the first ionization<\/td>649.1 kJ.mol-1<\/td><\/tr>
The energy of the second ionization<\/td>1414 kJ.mol-1<\/td><\/tr>
The energy of the third ionization<\/td>2830 kJ.mol-1<\/td><\/tr>
The energy of the fourth ionization<\/td>4652 kJ.mol-1<\/td><\/tr>
Discovery date<\/td>In 1801 by Andr\u00e9s Manuel del Rio \/ Niels Sefstrom<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

With the periodic table symbol V, atomic number 23, atomic mass of 50.9414 g.mol<\/span>-1<\/span>, and electron configuration [Ar]3d<\/span>3<\/span>4s<\/span>2<\/span>, vanadium is a solid, hard, silvery gray-white metal with good ductile and malleable properties. It reaches its boiling point at 3407\u00b0C, 6165\u00b0F, 3680 K, while the melting point is achieved at 1910\u00b0C, 3470\u00b0F, 2183 K. This relatively rare transition metal in the periodic table has an electronegativity of 1.6 according to Pauling, whereas the atomic radius according to van der Waals is 0.134 nm. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vanadium metal has a strong anti-corrosive effect. Namely, this substance does not dissolve in H2O nor it reacts when exposed to oxygen<\/a> at room temperature. It\u2019s also non-reactive with acids at room temperature, such as with hydrochloric or cold sulfuric acid. On the other hand, there is a strong reaction if the acids are heated.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How Was Vanadium Discovered?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In 1801, the Spanish chemist Andres Manuel Del Rio y Fern\u00e1ndez (1764 – 1849) performed a chemical analysis on a specimen of vanadite, Pb5(VO4)3Cl, which was called \u2018brown lead\u2019 at the time. While investigating the salts of the new substance, he first observed a wide range of colors. For this reason, Del Rio named his newly discovered element \u2018panechromo\u2019, meaning \u2018multicolored\u2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Discovery of Andres Manuel Del Rio y Fern\u00e1ndez <\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After a more detailed analysis of the oxide salts of the substance, especially of the sodium<\/a> vanadium oxide, the professor noticed an intensely red hue of the salt when exposed to heat or acids. This made him change his mind on the name, so he renamed the element \u2018eritrono or erythronium\u2019, borrowing the name from the Greek word \u2018eruthros\u2019 for \u2018red\u2019. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Believing that he had discovered a new chemical element, this Professor of Mineralogy at the Royal School of Mines, Mexico City, sent his scientific findings to the Institut De France via boat in order to have his discovery confirmed. Unfortunately, the ship never made it to its ultimate destination.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Vanadium Discoverer\u2019s Misfortune <\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

However, by the turn of events, some of Del Rio\u2019s notes were eventually recovered from the shipwreck, only for his scientific evidence to be denied. Namely, the Spanish chemist had actually analyzed impure chromium<\/a>. This finding was confirmed in 1805 by the French chemist Hippolyte-Victor Collet-Descotils.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Rediscovery of Vanadium<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It appeared as if the scientists were not much interested in this new chemical after the aforementioned event, until 1830. That year, the Swedish chemist Nils Gabriel Sefstr\u00f6m succeeded in what Andres Manuel Del Rio failed – to discover element 23, i.e. vanadium (V).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By analyzing a sample of Swedish iron<\/a> ore, Sefstr\u00f6m detected a new metal that formed numerous multi-colored compounds. He managed to isolate the new element from a sample of cast iron that was made from an ore mined at Sm\u00e5land, Sweden.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Ultimate Confirmation<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Mexican ore that was in Del Rio\u2019s hands was examined anew by the German chemist Friedrich W\u00f6hler, and he confirmed that the Spanish chemist really was on the trail toward discovering a new chemical element. In the end, W\u00f6hler\u2019s analysis of the mineral sample proved that vanadium was identical to Del Rio\u2019s erythronium which brought the Spanish chemist back the title of the first discoverer of element 23.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Contribution of Sir Henry Enfield Roscoe<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 1867, the English chemist Sir Henry E. Roscoe succeeded in isolating the vanadium metal by performing reduction of vanadium chloride (VCl3) with hydrogen<\/a> gas (H2). In honor of his work and achievement in the field of chemistry, the vanadium mineral <\/span>roscoelite<\/span><\/i> got its name.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How Did Vanadium Get Its Name?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This chemical element got its name after the old Norse word ‘<\/span>Vanadis<\/span><\/i>‘, which is also the name of the Scandinavian goddess Freyja, also known as Vanadis. Inspired by the beautiful vanadium compounds occurring in various vivid colors, the Swedish chemist Nils Gabriel Sefstr\u00f6m associated element 23 with the major goddess of the Nordic and Germanic pantheon.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Where Can You Find Vanadium?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This chemical element is never found naturally in its pure elemental form. It mostly occurs in a form of organic complexes in the iron ores, volcanic, and phosphate rocks, as well as in ash from the combustion of fossil fuels (crude oils), the aluminum ore bauxite, slag from phosphate ore, etc. Vanadium compounds can be also found in seawater, freshwaters, and various food sources. In this regard, element 26 is the second most abundant transition metal that occurs naturally in the oceans. Its abundance is surpassed only by molybdenum<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Element 23 can be obtained from different minerals, among which vanadinite, roscoelite, carnotite, and patronite are the most exploited ones. Nowadays, vanadium is mainly obtained as a byproduct of the mineral ores of vanadinite (Pb<\/span>5<\/span>(VO)<\/span>3<\/span>Cl), magnetite (Fe<\/span>3<\/span>O<\/span>4<\/span>), patronite (VS<\/span>4<\/span>), and carnotite (K<\/span>2<\/span>(UO<\/span>2<\/span>)<\/span>2<\/span>VO<\/span>4<\/span>\u00b71-3H<\/span>2<\/span>O). The process of isolation of vanadium from these ores starts by heating the crushed ore in the presence of carbon<\/a> and chlorine<\/a>. This chemical reaction produces vanadium trichloride which is then heated with magnesium<\/a> in an argon<\/a> atmosphere. Pure vanadium metal can be also obtained by metallothermic reduction of vanadium pentoxide.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The world’s largest vanadium ore mines are located in South Africa (in the Bushveld region), Russia (in the Kachkanar Massif of the Ural Mountains), Brazil (the high-grade Maracas mine), and China (Sichuan province). These countries are also the leading vanadium producers that provide over 90% of all vanadium supplies worldwide.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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List of Vanadium Minerals<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Naturally-occurring vanadium can be traced in the following minerals:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n