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Vanadium

Pure vanadium is a soft, silvery, ductile metal. Its protective oxide film provides excellent resistance to corrosion in alkalis, some acids, and salt water. This property allows vanadium to be used primarily as an additive to improve the mechanical properties of steel.

Vanadium is widely distributed in many minerals. Some crude oil and charcoal contain small concentrations of this element.

Compounds of vanadium have a variety of practical applications. Some are employed in the dyeing and printing of fabrics. A mixture of vanadium and gallium can produce superconductive magnets. An important vanadium compound is its pentoxide (V₂O₅), which has wide applications in the ceramics industry and serves as a raw material for the production of other compounds. Furthermore, this pentoxide is an important catalyst in the chemical industry, especially in the production of sulfuric acid.

Specific biological functions for vanadium have been identified in various species. Some marine worms, known as sea squirts, concentrate an enormous amount of vanadium in their blood, which aids in oxygenation. It has also been found that small amounts of vanadium are essential for the growth and reproduction of rats and chicks.