Vanadium (in homage to the goddess Vanadis) is a chemical element with symbol V, atomic number 23 (23 protons and 23 electrons), atomic mass 50.94 u. Under ambient conditions it is found in a solid state.
General characteristics
- Symbol: V
- Atomic number: 23
- Atomic mass: 50.9415
- Melting point: 1890.0°C
- Boiling point: 3380.0°C
- Number of protons/electrons: 23
- Number of neutrons: 28
- Classification: Transition metals
- Color: silver, sometimes red
- Discovery date: 1830
- Discoverer: Nils Sefstrom
- Uses: catalyst, dye, color-fixer
- Obtained from: minerals (patronite, vanadinite)
Characteristics of Vanadium
Characteristics/properties
Vanadium is a white, shiny, ductile, malleable metal, and can be elongated and worked into sheets (sheets).
It’s solid.
It is resistant to corrosion.
Vanadium is moderately reactive.
They do not react with oxygen in the air at room temperature nor do they dissolve in water.
Does not react with certain acids, such as cold sulfuric or hydrochloric acid.
But it becomes more reactive with hot acids, such as hot sulfuric and nitric.
Vanadium is special in that it acts as a metal (in some cases), and as a non-metal in other cases.
It is a good conductor of heat and electricity.
You can melt it.
Applications
It is used to produce corrosion-resistant steels and high-speed steels.
Used as a joining element (in permanent joints by hot rolling) with titanium or steel. It is also used in superconductors.
Vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) is used in ceramics and as a catalyst.