Vanadium (V)
Transition metal
Vanadium is a hard, silvery-grey metal whose main job is invisible: a few percent added to steel makes tools, axles and armour dramatically tougher. Its compounds cycle through a rainbow of oxidation-state colours.
Position on the periodic table
Atomic properties
| Atomic number | 23 |
|---|---|
| Atomic mass | 50.9415 amu |
| Electron configuration | 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d3 |
| Noble gas shorthand | [Ar] 3d3 4s2 |
| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 11, 2 |
| Valence electrons (outer shell) | 2 |
| Common oxidation states | +5, +4, +3, +2 |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 1.63 |
| Covalent radius (approx.) | 153 pm |
| First ionization energy | 650.9 kJ/mol |
| Electron affinity | 50.9 kJ/mol |
Physical properties
| State at 25 °C | Solid |
|---|---|
| Density | 6 g/cm³ |
| Melting point | 1909.8 °C (2183 K) |
| Boiling point | 3406.8 °C (3680 K) |
| Appearance | blue-silver-grey metal |
| Radioactive | No |
| Origin | Occurs naturally |
Electron configuration of vanadium
Vanadium's ground-state electron configuration is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d3, usually shortened to [Ar] 3d3 4s2. Its electrons occupy 4 shells (2, 8, 11, 2), placing it in period 4 of the d-block. Explore it interactively in the electron configuration calculator.
Uses of vanadium
- High-strength steel alloys for tools and construction
- Titanium alloys for aerospace
- Vanadium redox flow batteries for grid energy storage
- Catalyst for making sulfuric acid
Biological role: Some sea organisms concentrate vanadium; a trace role in humans is debated.
Occurrence: Spread through about 65 minerals and fossil fuel deposits.
Common compounds of vanadium
V2O5
Vanadium pentoxide
VOSO4
Vanadyl sulfate
History and discovery
Discovered: 1801 — Andrés Manuel del Río. Name origin: Named after Vanadis, another name for the Norse goddess Freyja, for its beautiful colours.
Discovered in 1801 by Andrés Manuel del Río in Mexico, dismissed, then rediscovered by Nils Sefström in 1830.
Safety notes
Vanadium compounds, especially V₂O₅ dust, are toxic if inhaled — an industrial rather than everyday hazard.
Educational context only — always follow your school's laboratory rules and never handle chemicals without proper supervision. See our disclaimer.
Practice questions
Quick practice: Vanadium
1. What is the chemical symbol of Vanadium?
2. What is the atomic number of Vanadium?
3. Which category does Vanadium belong to?
4. What is the state of Vanadium at room temperature?
5. Which period of the periodic table is Vanadium in?
Vanadium FAQs
What is the atomic number of vanadium?
Vanadium's atomic number is 23 — every vanadium atom has 23 protons in its nucleus.
What is the symbol for vanadium?
V. Named after Vanadis, another name for the Norse goddess Freyja, for its beautiful colours.
Is vanadium a metal, nonmetal, or metalloid?
Vanadium is classified as a transition metal.
What state is vanadium at room temperature?
At about 25 °C, vanadium is a solid. It melts at 1909.8 °C.
What is vanadium used for?
Key uses include: high-strength steel alloys for tools and construction; titanium alloys for aerospace; vanadium redox flow batteries for grid energy storage.
Related elements
Keep working with this element
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