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vanadium

vanadium definition

va·na·dium (və nā′dē əm)

noun

a rare, malleable, ductile, silver-white, metallic chemical element: it is alloyed with steel, to which it adds tensile strength, and is used in nuclear applications, etc.: symbol, V; at. no., 23

Etymology: ModL < ON Vanadis, Freya + -ium: name proposed (1831) by Baron Jöns Jakob Berzelius for element discovered independently by N. G. Sefström (1787-1845), Swed chemist, and previously (1801) by A. M. del Rio (1764-1849), Mex metallurgist

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