The Discoverer Of Vanadium: Andres Del Rio

On a day to day basis, some humans come into contact with items on the periodic table of elements more than others do

. Some people take iron as a supplement if they're anemic, and it's commonly known that bone strength and growth is encouraged by calcium. Cars that require large quantities of metal in their construction take us to work each day, and other metals such as silver and gold are commonly worn in jewelery. However, there is another metal that many of us have never heard of which is used to increase the strength of steel and titanium. Called vanadium, it was discovered by Mexican chemist Andres del Rio.

During the latter half of the 18th century, Del Rio (born in Madrid), received an education in chemistry and metallurgy, while studying in Paris, Germany, and England.. In 1792, the Spanish King Charles decreed the construction of a School of Mines in the colony of New Spain (which would later become Mexico). At only 28, Andres was the head of the mineralogy department.

In Mexico, del Rio published the first mineralogy book ever printed in the Americas, and continued his studies and gave lectures. Andres was a liberal who defended the right to an independent New Spain. When the nation became free, he chose to stay there, considering it his true home.

At a mine site in the state of Hidalgo, del Rio examined ore samples in 1801. After observing one particular compound, noting how it turned red upon being heated, he become convinced that he'd found a new periodic element and named it 'eritronium'. He gave some of the ore samples to an expert in Paris, who told him that the rocks were only chromium; a well-known substance that had been used to plate weapons for centuries. Andres was very disappointed, but accepted that he'd made an error.

The odd red minerals remained a footnote until 1830, 29 years later, when a Swedish chemist, Nils Sefstrom, rediscovered the element, and named it vanadium. Comparison of this metal with del Rio's samples showed that they were one and the same; Andre's Parisian friend had made the mistake in his own investigations, while he had been correct. Considered now to be one of Mexico's top three chemists, he had a long and distinguished career, eventually dying in 1849.

Vanadium is usually present in minerals such as vanadinite and is mostly not found alone in the environment. Once isolated, it is mixed with various metals to increase their strength and alloys are then used in everything from power tools to jet engines. It has the atomic number of 23 and is also sometimes seen in ocean ecosystems as a micronutrient.

by: Robert Nickel

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