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Vanadium - V

CAS: 7440-62-2
Description: Silvery-white metal
Classification: Transition Metal
Date of Discovery: 1830
Discoverer: Nils Sefstrom
Name Origin: Vanadis, a Scandinavian goddess

Atomic Number: 23
Number of Neutrons: 28
Atomic Mass: 50.9415 amu
Melting Point: 1910 ± 10 °C
Boiling Point: 3407 °C
Density (293 K): 5.8 g/cm3
Atomic volume: 8.78 cm³/mol
Electrical resistivity: 0.0489 10-6/cm Ohm Symbol
Thermal conductivity: 0.307 W/cmK
Enthalpy of atomization: 514.63 kJ/mol
Enthalpy of vaporization: 452 kJ/mol
Enthalpy of fusion: 20.90 kJ/mol
Specific heat capacity: 0.49 J/gK
Energy levels: 2-8-11-2
Electron configuration: [Ar]3d34s2
Crystal Structure: Cubic
Atomic radius: 1.92 Å
Covalent radius: 1.22 Å
Oxidation States: +2, +3, +4, +5
Electronegativity, Pauling: 1.63
Electron affinity: 0.525 eV
First ionization energy: 6.74 eV
2nd ionization energy: 14.65 eV
3rd ionization energy: 29.31 eV
Polarizability: 12.4 10-24cm3
Isotope Natural Abundance Atomic Mass Half-life Decay Mode Spin
43V 42.9807 >0.8 s Beta Symbol+
44V 43.9744 0.09 s Beta Symbol+, alpha symbol
45V 44.96578 0.54 s Beta Symbol+ 7/2-
46V 45.96020 0.4223 s Beta Symbol+ 0+
47V 46.954907 32.6 m Beta Symbol+, EC 3/2-
48V 47.952254 15.98 d Beta Symbol+ 4+
49V 48.948517 337 d EC 7/2-
50V 0.250(2) 49.947163 >1.4 x 1017y EC, Beta Symbol- 6+
51V 99.750(2) Stable 7/2-
52V 51.944780 3.76 m Beta Symbol- 3+
53V 52.944342 1.61 m Beta Symbol- 7/2-
54V 53.94644 49.8 s Beta Symbol- 3+
55V 54.9472 6.5 s Beta Symbol- (7/2-)
56V 55.9505 Beta Symbol-
57V 56.9525 Beta Symbol-
58V 57.9567 Beta Symbol-
59V 58.9593 Beta Symbol-
60V 59.965 Beta Symbol-
61V
Vanadium was first discovered by del Rio in 1801. Unfortunately, a French chemist incorrectly declared del Rio's new element was only impure chromium; del Rio thought himself to be mistaken and accepted the French chemist's statement. The element was rediscovered in 1830 by Sefstrom, who named the element in honor of the Scandinavian goddess Vanadis because of its beautiful multicolored compounds. It was isolated in nearly pure form by Roscoe, in 1867, who reduced the chloride with hydrogen. Vanadium of 99.3 to 99.8% purity was not produced until 1927. Vanadium is found in about 65 different minerals among which are carnotite [K2(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O], roscoelite [K(V,Al,Mg)2AlSi3O10(OH)2], vanadinite [Pb5(VO4)3Cl], and patronite (VS4) important sources of the metal. Vanadium is also found in phosphate rock and certain iron ores, and is present in some crude oils in the form of organic complexes. It is also found in small percentages in meteorites. Commercial production from petroleum ash holds promise as an important source of the leement. High-purity ductile vanadium can be obtained by reduction of vanadium trichloride with magnesium or with magnesium-sodium mixtures. Much of the vanadium metal being produced is now made by calcium reduction of V2O5 in a pressure vessel, an adaption of a process developed by McKechnie and Seybair. Natural vanadium is a mixture of two isotopes, 50V (0.25%) and 51V (99.75%). 50V is slightly radioactive, having a long half-life. Seventeen other unstable isotopes are recognized. Pure vanadium is a bright white metal, and is soft and ductile. It has good corrosion resistance to alkalis, sulfuric and hydrochloric acid, and salt water, but the metal oxidizes readily above 660 °C. The metal has good structural strength and a low fission neutron cross section, making it useful in nuclear applications. Vanadium is used in producing rust resistant, spring, and highspeed tools steels. It is an important carbide stabilizer in making steels. About 80% of the vanadium now produced is used as ferrovanadium or as a steel additive. Vanadium foil is used as a bonding agent in cladding titanium to steel. Vanadium pentoxide is used in ceramics and as a catalyst. It is also ued in producing a superconductive magnet with a field of 175,000 gauss. Vanadium and its compounds are toxic and should be handled with care. Ductile vanadium is commercially available.
LINKS:

The All Vanadium Redox Battery
VANADIUM - AN ELEMENT OF CONCERN
Vanadium in diabetes: benefit or harm?
World Vanadium - Clean Fuels For A Clean Tomorrow

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Sources for the information on this website include:
Lide, David R., ed. CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 78th Ed., 1997-1998.