vanadiums

Vanadium is a chemical element with symbol V and atomic number 23. It is a hard, silvery-gray transition metal that is relatively resistant to corrosion. It exhibits oxidation states from +2 to +5, with +4 and +5 common in oxides and many compounds. It has a high melting point of about 1,910°C and is ductile at room temperature.

Vanadium occurs in minerals such as vanadinite, carnotite, and patronite, and is also found in titanomagnetite iron ores. Commercial vanadium is produced mainly as ferrovanadium or vanadium pentoxide and is often recovered as a byproduct of steelmaking or ore processing. Major producers include China, Russia, South Africa, and Kazakhstan.

The main use of vanadium is as an alloying addition to steel and other alloys to improve strength, toughness, and high-temperature performance. Ferrovanadium alloys are common, and vanadium is also used in titanium alloys and certain high-strength steels. Vanadium pentoxide is a industrial catalyst for sulfuric acid production. Vanadium compounds are explored for energy storage in vanadium redox flow batteries and are used in pigments and ceramics.

Vanadium was discovered in 1801 by Andrés Manuel del Río and re-identified as a new element in 1830 by Nils Gabriel Sefström, who named it after the Norse goddess Vanadis. Handling of vanadium compounds requires care, as some can be toxic if inhaled or ingested. Mining and processing raise environmental concerns.