23VVanadium50.94151[Ar] 3d³ 4s²
transition metal

Vanadium

Vanadium is a chemical element with symbol V and atomic number 23. It is a hard, silvery grey, ductile and malleable transition metal. The element is found only in chemically combined form in nature, but once isolated artificially, the formation of an oxide layer stabilizes the free metal somewhat against further oxidation.

Electronic structure

A stylized shell model. Electrons are quantum objects, not particles following these literal paths. Sizes and motion are illustrative.

Electrons by shell
Electron configuration
3d3
4s2

18 is the [Ar] core total across three shells.

Properties

At a glance

Atomic number
23
Atomic mass
50.94151 u
Phase
Solid
Density
6 g/cm³
Melting point
2,183 K
Boiling point
3,680 K
First ionization energy
650.9 kJ/mol
Electronegativity
1.63
Electron affinity
50.911 kJ/mol
Molar heat capacity
24.89 J/(mol·K)
Period
4
Appearance
blue-silver-grey metal

Conditions and isotopes affect measured properties. Some properties of short-lived elements are predicted. Electronegativity uses the Pauling scale.

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