Vanadium and its Uses

Definition and Word Origin: According to the Merriam Webster’s definition, Vanadium (V) is a metallic element that is silver gray in color.  This malleable and ductile element is mined from minerals that are utilized in forming alloys and from catalysts.  This metal is a rare element and belongs to the list of transition elements. Transition elements are those elements with valence electron (number of bonds) in two shells instead of having in only one.

The name of the metal comes from an Old Norse Vanadis, a modern Latin name of the Scandinavian goddess Freyja.

History and Discoverers:  Andres Manuel del Rio, a Spanish-Mexican mineralogist, first discovered a new heavy metal (V). Del Rio obtained the element from an ore called “Mexican brown lead” (later known as Vanadinite). He later called the element panchromium, a Greek word which means “all colors”. The name originated when he found out that the element’s salts display a number of different colors.

Shortly thereafter he changed its name again to Erythronium meaning “red” in Greek. He changed the name because he discovered that when the element is heated, most of its salts turn red. Later, Baron von Humboldt erroneously stated that Del Rio’s newly discovered metal was only an adulterated sample of Chromium (a chemical element with symbol of Cr and an atomic number of 24). Del Rio revoked his claim for the new element afterwards.

In 1830, the first isolation was said to be done by Nils Gabriel Sefström, a Swedish chemist. He found a new oxide while dealing with iron ores. Friedrich Wohler established the truth about Del Rio’s discoveries. Gabriel Sefström began to choose a name which shall start with letter V. He assigned the name Vanadium (V) to the element (which came from an Old Norse Vanr goddess Freyja – a goddess that connotes beauty); to which linked to the metal because of its exhibited variety of colors.

Geourge Featherstonehaugh, a geologist, suggested that this heavy metal should be renamed to “rionium” but his proposition was neglected. On the other hand, German chemist Martin Henze found this heavy metal V in the coelom cells of sea squirts (also known as Ascidiacea) during the 19th century.

V and People’s Health:
This metal’s effect to people’s health is not said to be dangerous. However, workers or contractors’ exposure to its dust might lead to irritations in the throat, eyes and nose.
The absorption of this metal by the human body predominantly comes from foods like soya beans, apples, olive oil, buckwheat, eggs and sunflower oil. When it is absorbed in high quantities, several effects on human’s health might take place.

Absorption through the air can lead to pneumonia and bronchitis. It may also cause dizziness and headaches, nose bleeding, inflammation of digestive system (particularly the stomach and small and large intestines), throat soreness, body weakening, skin rashes, and severe bleeding of the kidneys and the liver.

Treatment Information:
People use this element as a treatment for several health problems such as hypoglycemia, heart diseases, diabetes, anemia, edema (water retention), tuberculosis, high cholesterol, and syphilis. It is also used for cancer prevention. There is also some proof that V works as insulin (a hormone produced in the pancreas that controls the amount of glucose in the blood) or could increase the quantity and amount of insulin in the body.

Intake and Safety:
Intake of this element is claimed to be safe for adults provided, however, that it is consumed at the right dosage. It is claimed that adults should take this (either from foods or supplements) in less than 1.8 milligrams per day. There are side effects it may cause though when taken in higher dosage such as energy loss, diarrhea, nervous system complications and nausea.

Among the unwanted side effects to the body when consumed in large amounts for a longer period of time are kidney damage and lung disease. Children are not advised to take this element even if they are found in supplements. It is safe enough for children to ingest V when they eat the food items already mentioned above.  Large doses could be harmful to both children and adults. 

It is not advisable, too, to take V while in the middle of pregnancy or breastfeeding. Pregnant women should not take its supplements.  It is best to follow the some precautions as children when V is concerned.

Environment and the Chemical Element V:
This element can be found in plants, fishes, algae, invertebrates and other species. Exposure of male animal species to this element can cause harm to their reproductive system.  In females, on the other hand, the element tends to accumulate in the placenta. 
This element can also cause DNA alteration with the organisms in some cases (damage in the DNA’s chemical structure such as broken strand in a DNA).  

While this metal has not been found to cause cancer in animals, it has been found to cause the suppression of some enzymes in animals which could lead to breathing disorders, paralyses, and adverse effects on liver and kidneys.

General Properties:
Name of the Symbol: Vanadium (Symbol = V; Atomic Number = 23)
Visible Aspects: Blue-gray metal
Pronunciation: /vəˈneɪdiəm/
Number of isotopes: Five (5)
Period: 4
Block: d
Group: 5
Electron Configuration: 3d3 4s2
1st Ionization (energy): 649.1 kJ.mol-1
2nd Ionization (energy): 1414 kJ.mol -1
3rd Ionization (energy): 2830 kJ.mol -1
4th Ionization (energy): 4652 kJ.mol -1
Ionic Radius: 0.074 nm (+3); 0.059 (+5)

The Metal’s Characteristics:

• Has great resistance to corrosion

• Medium hard

• Not brittle

• Steel-blue metal

• Malleable

• Ductile

• Harder than most of the metals and steels

• Stable against sulfuric, hydrochloric acids and alkalis

• Oxidized in air at about 660 degrees Celsius, 1220 degrees Fahrenheit, and/or 933 Kelvin.

VO2 is used as a catalyst in producing maleic anhydride and sulfuric acid; also used in creating ceramics. To create a green or blue glass tint, it is added to glasses to produce these tints. VO2-coated glasses can block infrared radiation at some particular temperature. 

Most of this metal is used and applied as an alloy together with iron.  The resulting compound is used to make better steels. It is made by minimizing the combination of iron oxides and VO.

[The information contained in this article is believed to be reliable. I have taken every precaution to verify its accuracy; I am not a medical professional and make no warranties, representations or guarantees of any kind as to its accuracy. Medical knowledge is in a constant state of change, and what I have written here may be out of date by the time you read it. The information that I have provided here is for informational purposes only and not for use in diagnosing any condition that you may or may not have. Always consult with you doctor before treating yourself.]