Oxidation States of Vanadium Still Images A yellow solution of vanadium in its plus five oxidation state is poured into a large flask containing a zinc amalgam. The zinc serves as a reducing agent for the vanadium species. In the process, the zinc is oxidized to zinc(II) ion. When the flask is swirled, the vanadium changes to a light blue, indicating a plus four oxidation state. Swirling increases the contact between the zinc amalgam and the aqueous vanadium solution. Further reduction produces a deep green vanadium plus three solution. With even more swirling in the amalgam, the vanadium is ultimately transformed to purple vanadium plus two. You can get at large JPEG versions of the images by means of the following links. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Back to the topic
A yellow solution of vanadium in its plus five oxidation state is poured into a large flask containing a zinc amalgam. The zinc serves as a reducing agent for the vanadium species. In the process, the zinc is oxidized to zinc(II) ion. When the flask is swirled, the vanadium changes to a light blue, indicating a plus four oxidation state. Swirling increases the contact between the zinc amalgam and the aqueous vanadium solution. Further reduction produces a deep green vanadium plus three solution. With even more swirling in the amalgam, the vanadium is ultimately transformed to purple vanadium plus two.
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© 1999 Division of Chemical Education, Inc., American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.
