Atomic Properties of V
- Atomic Number of V
- 23
- Atomic Mass of V
- 50.9420 u
- Electron Configuration
- [Ar] 3d3 4s2
- Electronegativity
- 1.63
- Block
- d-block
- Group
- 5
- Period
- 4
Vanadium (V) is element 23 on the periodic table. Atomic mass of V: 50.9420 u. V is in period 4, group 5. Melting point of V: 2183.00 K.Density of V: 6.00 g/cm³.
Vanadium in everyday life and industry
Some mushrooms accumulate vanadium, particularly Amanita muscaria Sea squirts concentrate vanadium in their blood at levels millions of times higher than seawater Vanadium may play a role in bone metabolism in humans Some nitrogen-fixing bacteria use vanadium-based nitrogenase enzymes
Discovered by Nils Sefström in Sweden, 1830
Name origin: From Scandinavian goddess, Vanadis.
Soft and ductile, bright white metal. Good resistance to corrosion by alkalis, sulphuric and hydrochloric acid. It oxidizes readily about 933K. There are two naturally occurring isotopes of vanadium, and 5 radioisotopes, V-49 having the longest half-life at 337 days. Vanadium has nuclear applications, the foil is used in cladding titanium to steel, and vanadium-gallium tape is used to produce a superconductive magnet. Originally discovered by Andres Manuel del Rio of Mexico City in 1801. His discovery went unheeded, however, and in 1820, Nils Gabriel Sefstron of Sweden rediscovered it. Metallic vanadium was isolated by Henry Enfield Roscoe in 1867. The name vanadium comes from Vanadis, a goddess of Scandinavian mythology. Silvery-white metallic transition element. Vanadium is essential to Ascidians. Rats and chickens are also known to require it. Metal powder is a fire hazard, and vanadium compounds should be considered highly toxic. May cause lung cancer if inhaled.
Vanadium has 2 naturally occurring isotopes, plus 2 notable radioactive isotopes.
| Isotope | Atomic Mass (u) | Abundance | Half-Life | Decay Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4823V (V-48)Vanadium-48 isotope | 47.9522522 | 0% | 15.97 days | β⁺, EC |
| 4923V (V-49)Vanadium-49 isotope | 48.9485118 | 0% | 337 days | EC |
| 5023V (V-50)Vanadium-50 isotope | 49.94715601 | 0.2500% | — | — |
| 5123V (V-51)Vanadium-51 isotope | 50.94395704 | 99.75% | — | — |
Data source: NIH PubChem (aggregated from IUPAC, NIST)
Isotopes of Vanadium have important real-world applications in science and industry.
51V is used in solid state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) to provide information to material scientists about surface species of vanadium oxide catalysts (substances that increase the rate of chemical reactions without themselves undergoing any permanent chemical change), their interaction with the supporting material, and their reactions during catalytic processes [205].
It is mixed with other metals to make very strong and durable alloys. Vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) is used as a catalyst, dye and color-fixer.
Found in the minerals patronite (VS4), vanadinite [Pb5(VO4)3Cl], and carnotite [K2(UO2)2(VO4)2·3H2O]. Pure metal produced by heating with C and Cl to produce VCl3 which is heated with Mg in Ar atmosphere.
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