Vanadium: Element Overview

Basic Information

• Symbol: V
• Atomic Number: 23
• Atomic Weight: 50.9415 u
• Element Category: Transition metal
• Group: 5
• Period: 4

Physical Properties

• Phase at Room Temperature: Solid
• Melting Point: 1910 °C (3470 °F)
• Boiling Point: 3407 °C (6165 °F)
• Density: 6.11 g/cm³ at 20 °C
• Color: Silvery-gray
• Crystal Structure: Body-centered cubic (bcc)

Chemical Properties

• Electronegativity: 1.63 (Pauling scale)
• Ionization Energies:
  • First: 650.9 kJ/mol
  • Second: 1414 kJ/mol
  • Third: 2830 kJ/mol
• Oxidation States: +5, +4, +3, +2 (most common is +5)
• Reactivity: Forms stable compounds with most nonmetals and reacts with acids to form vanadium salts.

Isotopes

• Stable Isotopes: Vanadium has one stable isotope: V-51.
• Radioisotopes: Vanadium-50 is a radioactive isotope with a very long half-life (approximately 1.5 × 10¹⁷ years).

Occurrence and Production

• Natural Abundance: Vanadium is the 20th most abundant element in the Earth’s crust.
• Sources: Found in minerals such as vanadinite, carnotite, and magnetite. Also present in bauxite and certain iron ores.
• Production: Produced as a byproduct of iron and steel production, or from the processing of vanadium-bearing ores. The vanadium is extracted through roasting and leaching processes.

Uses and Applications

• Steel Alloys: Used to produce high-strength, low-alloy (HSLA) steels and tool steels, improving strength, toughness, and wear resistance.
• Aerospace: Used in the production of titanium-aluminum-vanadium alloys for aerospace applications due to its high strength and corrosion resistance.
• Chemical Industry: Used as a catalyst in the production of sulfuric acid (contact process) and in the synthesis of other chemicals.
• Batteries: Used in vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB) for large-scale energy storage.
• Pigments and Dyes: Vanadium compounds are used to produce pigments for ceramics, glass, and textiles.

Safety and Precautions

• Reactivity: Vanadium is relatively non-reactive at room temperature but can form hazardous compounds.
• Handling: Vanadium dust and fumes should be handled with care as they can be toxic if inhaled.
• Toxicity: Vanadium compounds can cause respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurological effects with prolonged exposure. It should be handled with appropriate safety measures.

Biological Role

• Non-essential Element: Vanadium is not essential for human health but is required in trace amounts for some marine organisms and algae.
• Biological Activity: Some studies suggest vanadium compounds have insulin-mimetic properties and may be used in diabetes research.

Historical Background

• Discovery: Discovered by Andrés Manuel del Río in 1801 in Mexico and rediscovered by Nils Gabriel Sefström in 1831 in Sweden.
• Naming: Named after “Vanadis,” another name for the Norse goddess Freyja, due to the variety of colors found in vanadium compounds.

Interesting Facts

• Colorful Compounds: Vanadium compounds exhibit a variety of colors, which is why vanadium was named after a goddess associated with beauty.
• Space Exploration: Vanadium alloys are used in space exploration equipment due to their strength and light weight.
• Corrosion Resistance: Vanadium improves the corrosion resistance of steel alloys, making them suitable for harsh environments.

Summary

Vanadium is a versatile transition metal known for its use in strengthening steel alloys and its application in aerospace, chemical production, and energy storage. It forms colorful compounds and has unique properties that make it valuable in various industrial processes. Discovered in the early 19th century, vanadium is produced mainly as a byproduct of iron and steel production and is essential for producing high-performance materials.

Questions and Answers about Vanadium:

1. Q: What is the chemical symbol for Vanadium?

   • A: V

2. Q: What is the atomic number of Vanadium?

   • A: 23

3. Q: What type of element is Vanadium?

   • A: Transition metal

4. Q: What is the atomic weight of Vanadium?

   • A: 50.9415 u

5. Q: What group is Vanadium in?

   • A: Group 5

6. Q: What period is Vanadium in?

   • A: Period 4

7. Q: What is the phase of Vanadium at room temperature?

   • A: Solid

8. Q: What is the melting point of Vanadium?

   • A: 1910 °C (3470 °F)

9. Q: What is the boiling point of Vanadium?

   • A: 3407 °C (6165 °F)

10. Q: What is the density of Vanadium at 20 °C?

    • A: 6.11 g/cm³

11. Q: What is the color of Vanadium metal?

    • A: Silvery-gray

12. Q: What is the crystal structure of Vanadium?

    • A: Body-centered cubic (bcc)

13. Q: What is the electronegativity of Vanadium?

    • A: 1.63 (Pauling scale)

14. Q: What is the first ionization energy of Vanadium?

    • A: 650.9 kJ/mol

15. Q: How many stable isotopes does Vanadium have?

    • A: One (V-51)

16. Q: What is the most abundant isotope of Vanadium?

    • A: V-51

17. Q: How is Vanadium commercially produced?

    • A: As a byproduct of iron and steel production or from vanadium-bearing ores through roasting and leaching processes

18. Q: What is the natural abundance of Vanadium in the Earth’s crust?

    • A: 20th most abundant element

19. Q: What common minerals contain Vanadium?

    • A: Vanadinite, carnotite, magnetite

20. Q: What industry uses Vanadium extensively for steel alloys?

    • A: Steel and construction industry

21. Q: What is one use of Vanadium in the aerospace industry?

    • A: Used in titanium-aluminum-vanadium alloys

22. Q: What role does Vanadium play in the chemical industry?

    • A: Used as a catalyst in the production of sulfuric acid

23. Q: Why is Vanadium used in batteries?

    • A: Used in vanadium redox flow batteries for large-scale energy storage

24. Q: What is the biological role of Vanadium in the body?

    • A: Vanadium has no known essential biological role in humans

25. Q: Who discovered Vanadium?

    • A: Andrés Manuel del Río

26. Q: In what year was Vanadium discovered?

    • A: 1801

27. Q: What is the origin of the name “Vanadium”?

    • A: Named after the Norse goddess Freyja (Vanadis)

28. Q: What property makes Vanadium suitable for use in harsh environments?

    • A: Improves the corrosion resistance of steel alloys

29. Q: What health hazard is associated with Vanadium compounds?

    • A: Can cause respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurological effects with prolonged exposure

30. Q: How should Vanadium dust and fumes be handled?

    • A: With care, using appropriate safety measures to avoid inhalation

31. Q: What is the second ionization energy of Vanadium?

    • A: 1414 kJ/mol

32. Q: What is the third ionization energy of Vanadium?

    • A: 2830 kJ/mol

33. Q: Is Vanadium essential for plant health?

    • A: No, but it is required in trace amounts for some marine organisms and algae

34. Q: What is the significance of Vanadium in scientific research?

    • A: Used in studies for its insulin-mimetic properties

35. Q: What is the role of Vanadium in high-performance materials?

    • A: Provides strength, toughness, and corrosion resistance

36. Q: How does Vanadium benefit the aerospace industry?

    • A: Used in high-performance materials for aircraft and spacecraft

37. Q: What is Vanadium’s role in improving steel alloys?

    • A: Increases strength and durability

38. Q: What is the use of Vanadium in pigments and dyes?

    • A: Produces pigments for ceramics, glass, and textiles

39. Q: How does Vanadium contribute to the production of sulfuric acid?

    • A: Used as a catalyst in the contact process

40. Q: What color are vanadium compounds typically?

    • A: They can exhibit a variety of colors