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VA-NA-DI-UM
Vanadium is probably one of those obscure metals that you don't learn much about in school. Basically, it is an element found as a part of several minerals. Now it's used in nuclear power plants and purification processes. You'll find it in the top row of transition metals just to the right of titanium.
It was discovered and named in 1901 by a scientist named del Rio in Mexico and later by another scientist named Sefstrom in Sweden. It was named after the Scandinavian goddess Vanadis. It wasn't until 1867 that pure vanadium was isolated. When purified, vanadium is a bright white metal.
Where else can you find vanadium?
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Meteorites
We'll start with a cool example. Vanadium is found in meteorites that are flying through space right now.
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Uranium Purification
We know this another example you won't really find around the house. Vanadium is only one of many elements used in the process to refine uranium for nuclear purposes.
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Springs and Alloys
There are certain physical characteristics to vanadium that make it really useful in the manufacture of springs. You will also find it in other alloys used in industry.
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Industrial Processes
Industry is kind of a poor description, but vanadium is used in a lot of manufacturing processes. Two big processes are the creation of ammonia and sulfuric acid. These compounds are then used in other processes.
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Magnets
This is another one of those uses you won't find around the house. While you might be familiar with magnets made out of iron, there are other specialized magnets used in research. These superconducting magnets have the element vanadium because of its unique physical properties.
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Ceramics
You'll find trace amounts of vanadium used in ceramics. There are even other craft uses in dyes and some paints.
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