Vanadium is element number 23, a metal with the symbol V. Its name comes from Vanadis, a god of beauty in Norse myth.
Atomic number 2350.94
VVanadiumバナジウム (banajiumu)
Symbol
V
Atomic weight
50.94
Place in the table
Period 4 · Group 5
Atomic weight from the Chemical Society of Japan, “Table of Standard Atomic Weights with Four Significant Figures (2026)”.
Named for beauty
The symbol V comes from the Latin vanadium, after the Norse god of beauty, because vanadium’s compounds have beautiful colors. It was discovered in 1801.
A neighbor named for color
Chromium (Cr), vanadium’s neighbor on the periodic table, is also named for color, from the Greek word for “color,” because its compounds come in so many colors.
Vanadium is in the fourth row of Group 5, between titanium and chromium.
Think about it
Q1Two elements named for beautiful colors sit side by side. Isn’t that interesting?
Q2If you named an element after its color, what would you call it?
Q3Where is the Nordic region? Find it on a map.
There is no single right answer. Talking it over with someone at home is a good way to learn.
Did you know? — Niobium (Nb), named after Niobe, daughter of King Tantalus in Greek myth, was also discovered in 1801.