Element 23 · Transition metal
Vanadium (V) — Element 23
Vanadis, Norse goddess
Vanadium (V) is a transition metal in Period 4, Group 5 of the periodic table with atomic number 23, standard atomic weight 50.942 u, and ground-state electron configuration [Ar] 3d³ 4s². At standard temperature and pressure it is classified as a solid with 5 valence electrons and common oxidation states +5, +4, +3.
High-strength steel alloys
What are the atomic properties and physical constants of Vanadium?
Reference constants compiled from IUPAC standard atomic weights, the NIST Atomic Spectra Database, and the CRC Handbook.
- Atomic number (Z)
- 23
- Standard atomic mass
- 50.942 u
- Chemical family
- Transition metal
- Ground-state configuration
- [Ar] 3d³ 4s²
- Electrons per shell
- 2, 8, 11, 2
- Valence electrons
- 5
- Common ion charges / oxidation states
- +5, +4, +3
- Phase at STP
- Solid
- Pauling electronegativity
- 1.63 Pauling
- First ionization energy
- 650 kJ/mol
- Atomic radius
- 171 pm
- Melting point
- 1,910 °C
- Boiling point
- 3,407 °C
- Discovery year
- 1801
- Table coordinate
- Period 4, Group 5
- Radioactivity
- Has stable isotope(s)
How are electrons arranged across Vanadium’s shells?
A neutral Vanadium atom contains 23 electrons distributed across 4 occupied principal energy shells ([Ar] 3d³ 4s²). The table below compares Vanadium’s shell occupancy against each shell’s theoretical 2n² capacity.
| Principal Shell (n) | Spectroscopic Letter | Electrons in V | Max Shell Capacity (2n²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| n = 1 | K | 2 e⁻ | 2 e⁻ |
| n = 2 | L | 8 e⁻ | 8 e⁻ |
| n = 3 | M | 11 e⁻ | 18 e⁻ |
| n = 4 | N | 2 e⁻ | 32 e⁻ |
Frequently Asked Questions about Vanadium (V)
What is the atomic mass and atomic number of Vanadium (V)?
Vanadium (V) has atomic number Z = 23 (23 protons in its nucleus) and an IUPAC standard atomic weight of 50.942 u. It sits in Period 4, Group 5 and is classified as a transition metal.
What is the ground-state electron configuration of Vanadium?
The neutral ground-state electron configuration of Vanadium (Z = 23) is [Ar] 3d³ 4s². Across its 4 occupied principal shells (n = 1 to n = 4), the electrons per shell are 2, 8, 11, 2, with 5 valence electrons participating in bonding.
What are the common ion charges and electronegativity of Vanadium?
Vanadium commonly forms +5, +4, +3 oxidation states or ion charges in compounds. Its Pauling electronegativity is 1.63 and its first ionization energy is 650 kJ/mol.
When was Vanadium discovered and what is it used for?
Vanadium was discovered in 1801 (Vanadis, Norse goddess). High-strength steel alloys
How does Vanadium compare to neighboring elements?
Other transition metal elements: