XIX. Researches on vanadium

Abstract

On the Chlorides of Vanadium and Metallic In the first part of these researches (‘Bakerian Lecture,’ Phil. Trans. 1868, pt. i.) the author stated that the chlorides of vanadium, and probably also the metal itself, could be prepared from the mononitride, the only compound of vanadium not containing oxygen then known. The process for obtaining the mononitride described in the last communication was that adopted by Berzelius for preparing the substance which he conceived to be metal, but which in reality is mononitride. "This method consists in the action of ammonia on the oxitri-chloride; but it cannot be employed for the preparation of large quantities of nitride, owing to the violence of the action and consequent loss of material. The author, seeking for a more economical method, found that if the ammonium metavanadate (NH 4 VO 3 ) be heated for a sufficiently long time at a white heat m a current of dry ammonia, pure vanadium mononitride remains behind. Analysis of a sample thus prepared gave 79·6 per cent, of vanadium and 20·2 per cent, of nitrogen, theory requiring 78·6 and 21·4 per cent, respectively. The mononitride may likewise be directly prepared by igniting vanadium trioxide (V 2 O 3 ) in a current of ammonia at a white heat in a platinum tube, and also by subjecting the dichloride to the same treatment.