Vanadium

 =Vanadium=


 * Atomic Number:** 23


 * Protons:** 23


 * Electrons:** 28


 * Neutrons:** 23 


 * Average Atomic Mass:** 50.942 amu


 * Isotopes:** V-47, V-48, V-49, V-50, V-51, V-52, V-53


 * Discovery:** Vanadium was originally discovered by Andres Manuel Del Rio (a Spanish-born Mexican mineralogist) in Mexico City, in 1801. 
 * Name:** Andres Manuel Del Rio examined brown lead from Zimapan and conclude it contained a new metal similar to Chromium and Uranium. Because of the red color  that its salts acquire on heating, he called it Erythronium. Before publishing he decided he was mistaken, and it was a lead chromate. In 1805 Collet-Descotils confirmed Del Río's analysis as lead chromate. The element was named Vanadium because of the multi colored compounds. Vanadis, is a nickname for Freya, the godess of beauty


 * Uses:** Vanadium is used in producing rust resistant and high speed 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 used to produce a superconductive magnet with a field of 175,000 gauss.


 * Interesting Facts**: The name originates from Vanadis the Scandinavian Goddess of beauty because the element has beautiful multi-colored chemical compounds.

media type="youtube" key="XRjb_IKDiz8" height="344" width="425"
 * Video:** Vanadium by [|Periodic Table Videos on youtube]


 * Sources**


 * [|Vanadium spring on Flickr]
 * [|Vanadium on Web Elements]
 * [|Vanadium history on Web Elements]
 * [|Vanadium Isotopes on Web Elements]
 * [|Naming Vanadium on Origins Element Names]
 * [|Vanadium from Periodic Table Videos Youtube]