RE: Clark,so wrong1 Aug 2018 15:43
CG and coffeecups - Bill has pointed out an interesting fact that the Atomic number is 23. I have pointed out an even more interesting fact that 23 = 2+2+6+2+6+3+2
Those who studied A-level chemistry will no doubt recognise the classic pattern of the electronic orbital configuration - namely 2 electrons in an spherically symmetric s-orbital then 6 electrons in the three figure of 8 shaped p orbitals, eventually getting to 3 more electrons in the d-orbitals of the 3rd shell.
This structure comes naturally from one beautiful and fundamental equation - Schrodinger's equation for the hydrogen atom, which admittedly only applies perfectly for an atom with a single electron.
Put many electron-electron interactions in for heavier atoms and you might expect this atomic structure to be all messed up - the incredible thing is that it continues to work very well because the electrons pair up in each orbital with opposite spin because they are fermions and this arrangement minimises the repulsion between them.
Anyway to cut a long story short it is the man-body interactions that make Vanadium fill its outer orbitals like this: 3d = 3 unpaired electrons, 4s = 2 paired electrons - the 3d orbital and 4s orbital are both at very similar energies so the electrons can redistribute themselves amongst these highest level energy states in many different ways.
This is what allows Vanadium uniquely to form bonds in so many different ways and to exist in so many oxidation states (when we say oxidation state 5+ we do not imply a 5+ ionised ion, as the electrons do not get fully ripped off the Vanadium but instead remain flitting around in the outer electronic orbitals, nevertheless the state is energetically different to the '4+', '3+' and '2+').
This is why Vanadium can be used to both strengthen steel and to make flow batteries from, and why you cannot do the same with any other element.
Sign In
Follow the stocks
