Overview
Vanadium is a hard, silvery transition metal that improves strength and toughness when alloyed with steel and other metals.
Properties
It exhibits multiple oxidation states commonly +2 to +5, forms colorful compounds and has useful redox chemistry for catalysis.
Occurrence and Uses
Used in steel alloys, aerospace components, catalysts and emerging redox flow batteries for energy storage.
Isotopes and Safety
Stable isotope V 51 predominates; some vanadium compounds are toxic and inhalation or ingestion should be avoided with appropriate controls.