Del Rio first discovered Vanadium in 1801. Unfortunately, French chemists incorrectly declared del Rio's new element was only impure chromium; del Rio thought himself to be mistaken and accepted the French chemist's statement. The element was rediscovered in 1830 by Sefstrom, who named the element in honor of the Scandinavian goddess Vanadis because of its beautiful multicolored compounds.
It was isolated in nearly pure form by Roscoe, in 1867, who reduced the chloride with hydrogen. Vanadium of 99.3 to 99.8 purity was not produced until 1927. Vanadium is found in about 65 different minerals among which are carontite, roscoelite, vanadinite, and patronite.
Commercial production from petroleum ash holds promise as an important source of the element.
Vanadium foil is used as a bonding agent in cladding titanium to steel. Vanadium pentoxide is used in ceramics and as a catalyst. Vanadium and its compounds are toxic and should be handled with care.