Vanadium (V): Bohr Model, Protons, Neutrons & Electrons
Vanadium is element number 23, a transition metal in group 5, period 4. Its atom has 23 protons, 28 neutrons and 23 electrons arranged in 4 shells: 2, 8, 11, 2.
Protons, neutrons and electrons in vanadium
The atomic number of vanadium is 23, so every vanadium atom has 23 protons. A neutral atom has the same number of electrons, 23. The number of neutrons depends on the isotope: neutrons = mass number − atomic number. For vanadium-51, that is 51 − 23 = 28 neutrons. Vanadium has 2 stable isotopes, with 27, 28 neutrons.
How to draw the Bohr model of vanadium
- Draw the nucleus and write 23 p⁺ and 28 n⁰ inside it.
- Draw the first shell and put 2 electrons on it (the first shell holds at most 2).
- Draw the second shell and put 8 electrons on it.
- Draw the third shell and put 11 electrons on it.
- Draw the fourth shell and put 2 electrons on it.
- Check: 2 + 8 + 11 + 2 = 23 electrons, the same as the number of protons.
From potassium onwards the shells don’t simply fill as 2, 8, 8: the fourth shell starts before the third is full, so the real arrangement above (2, 8, 11, 2) is the one to draw.
Electron configuration
The electron configuration of vanadium is [Ar] 4s² 3d³. As a transition metal it fills an inner d-subshell, and its common ion is V³⁺.
Key facts about vanadium
| Symbol | V |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 23 |
| Relative atomic mass | 50.942 |
| Group · period · block | group 5 · period 4 · d-block |
| Type | Transition Metal |
| State at 25 °C | solid |
| Electron shells | 2, 8, 11, 2 |
| Electron configuration | [Ar] 4s² 3d³ |
| Valence electrons | varies (outer shell: 2) |
| Common ion | V³⁺ |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 1.63 |
| First ionisation energy | 6.75 eV (651 kJ/mol) |
| Atomic radius (empirical) | 135 pm |
Where vanadium sits on the periodic table
Frequently asked questions
How many protons, neutrons and electrons does vanadium have?
Vanadium has 23 protons and 23 electrons (atomic number 23). Its most common isotope, vanadium-51, has 51 − 23 = 28 neutrons.
What is the electron configuration of vanadium?
[Ar] 4s² 3d³. In shells that is 2, 8, 11, 2.
How many valence electrons does vanadium have?
Vanadium is a transition metal, so its valence electrons are spread over two shells; its outermost shell holds 2.
Where is vanadium on the periodic table?
In group 5, period 4, in the d-block. It is a transition metal.
