Vanadium(III) oxide

Vanadium(III) oxide
Identifiers
CAS number 1314-34-7 Y
PubChem 518710
RTECS number YW3050000
Properties
Molecular formula V2O3
Molar mass 149.881 g/mol
Appearance Black powder
Density 4.87 g/cm3
Melting point

1940 °C

Solubility in other solvents Insoluble
Structure
Crystal structure Trigonal (karelianite), hR30
Space group R-3c h, No. 167
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Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Vanadium trioxide is the chemical compound V2O3. It is prepared by reduction of V2O5 with hydrogen or carbon monoxide.[1]It is a basic oxide dissolving in acids to give reducing vanadium(III) solutions.[1] V2O3 has the corundum structure.[1] It is antiferromagnetic with a critical temperature of 160 K. [2] At this temperature there is an abrupt change in conductivity from metallic to insulating.[2]

On exposure to air it is gradually converted into indigo-blue crystals of V2O4.[2] Vanadium trioxide is generally used as a catalyst when making ethanol from ethylene.

In nature it occurs only rarely, as the mineral karelianite.

References

  1. ^ a b c Greenwood, Norman N.; Earnshaw, Alan (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd ed.). Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 0080379419. 
  2. ^ a b c E.M. Page, S.A.Wass (1994),Vanadium:Inorganic and Coordination chemistry, Encyclopedia of Inorganic Chemistry, John Wiley & Sons, ISBN 0-471-93620-0