Vanadium is located in group 5B, in the transition metals, on the periodic table of the elements. Also, included in this group are niobium [atomic number 41 with an atomic weight of 92.9064 grams per mole], tantalum [atomic number 73 with an atomic weight of 180.948 grams per mole], and dubnium [atomic number 105 with an atomic weight of 262.114 grams per mole].
With a smaller density than its two counter parts, that we have data referencing, vanadium also has a lower melting point and boiling point. Since "the atomic size increases down a group," as we learned in chapter ten of Zumdahl's text, the vanadium atom is smaller than niobium and tantalum, respectively. Likewise, Zumdahl explained that, "the ionization energies decrease down a group," vanadium contains higher ionization energy and is, overall, more pliable than niobium or tantalum.
Vanadium Niobium Tantalum
Melting Point 1900◦C/3500◦F +/-10◦ 2470◦C/4490◦F +/-10◦ 3010◦C/5460◦F +/-10◦
Boiling Point 3380◦C/5400◦ F +/- 10◦ 4740◦C/8570◦F +/-10◦ 5450◦C/9850◦F +/-10◦
Molar Mass 8.32 / cm^3 10.83 / cm^3 10.85 / cm^3
Geologically, the amount of naturally occurring vanadium is twenty-five hundredths of one percent (0.250 %). This is much lower than niobium and tantalum, which are found to be one hundred percent and ninety-nine and nine hundred eighty-eight thousandths of one percent (100% and 99.988%) naturally occurring, respectively. Vanadium is not found as a free metal in nature, which is a trait that it shares with dubnium. However, natural vanadium is a mixture of two isotopes [^50V