The element with atomic number 23 named after the Norse goddess of beauty is vanadium. Its symbol is V, and it is a hard, silvery-grey transition metal.
The name refers to Vanadís, a name for the Norse goddess Freyja, who is associated with beauty and fertility. Swedish chemist Nils Gabriel Sefström selected the name in 1830 after rediscovering the element. The connection was inspired by the remarkable range of colours shown by vanadium compounds, rather than by the appearance of the pure metal.
Vanadium’s discovery story began earlier. In 1801, Spanish-Mexican scientist Andrés Manuel del Río found compounds of the element in a lead mineral. He initially recognised a new substance, but later accepted the incorrect suggestion that it was merely chromium. Sefström’s work established its identity, and Henry Enfield Roscoe isolated the pure element in 1867.
Most vanadium is used to strengthen steel, especially high-speed tool steels. Its compounds can display several oxidation states, producing vivid colours. This colourful chemistry is why vanadium is sometimes confused with chromium, another transition metal used in alloys and compounds.