Vanadium

Vanadium is a metallic element with the symbol V and the atomic number 23. A soft, ductile element, vanadium is not found native but it naturally occurs in numerous minerals including carnotite, vanadite and phosphate rock. It is also found in spent petroleum catalysts and ash from utility plants burning vanadium containing fuels. It is one of the 26 elements found in most living organisms and dietary supplements can be found in vitamin stores. Approximately 90% of vanadium produced is used as an alloying agent for iron and steel. The balance is used in catalysts for production of sulfuric acid and certain petrochemicals.