23V50.942
Vanadium
Transition metalsHard, shiny metals that conduct heat and electricity well and often form coloured compounds.
[Ar] 3d³ 4s²
- Atomic number
- 23
- Atomic mass
- 50.942
- Protons
- 23
- Neutrons
- 28 (most common)
- Electrons
- 23
- Shells
- 2, 8, 11, 2
- State at 25 °C
- Solid
- Position
- Group 5, period 4
Proton (+)Neutron (0)Electron (−)
Discovered byAndrés Manuel del Río, 1801Andrés Manuel del Río: 1 element
Del Río found it in Mexico but was told it was chromium. Nils Sefström rediscovered it in 1830 and named it after Vanadís, a Norse goddess.
Did you know?
- Its compounds come in many bright colours.
- Chrome-vanadium steel is stamped on many tool sets.
Where it's found
- Magnetite ores
- Some crude oils
What it's used for
- Tough steel for spanners and tools
- Large vanadium batteries for storing solar power
Try it
There's no safe home experiment for Vanadium. Explore it with the animated atom above instead.