VANADIUM (V)

last update 01 oct 08

* Vanadium is a member of the transition metals family:

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   VANADIUM / V / 23

   A shiny, silvery metal that resists corrosion by forming an oxide
   layer.  Most vanadium found in nature is of the stable V<51/23>, at
   99.8%, the other 0.2% being weakly radioactive V<50/23>, with a
   half-life of 10^17 years.

     atomic weight:       50.9415
     abundance:           19th 
     density:             6.11 g/cc
     melting point:       1,890 C
     boiling point:       3,380 C
     valence:             2 3 4 <5>
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Vanadium is produced in quantities of tens of thousands of tonnes a year for use an alloying element, particularly in steels. Vanadium steels, which contain from 0.1% to 3% vanadium, resist corrosion as well as shock and vibration; they are used for springs, tools, jet engines, and armor plate.