Symbol: V (for Vanadium)
Atomic number: 23 - making it the Michael Jordan of the chemical world.
Overview: It's a pretty cool name, Vanadium, isn't it? But that aside, what is there to be said for this anything-but-distinguished element, other than that it doesn't occur naturally on its own?
Discovered: In 1801 by Andres Manuel Del Rio, a Spanish-Mexican scientist who these days could get a job managing Chelsea for a few months with a name like that. Del Rio's name for the element? The not-terribly-imaginative 'brown lead'.
What it looks like: A silvery-grey metal. So like virtually every other metallic element, then...
What it does: Poisons you, if ingested to excess. Be sure to remember that the next time you go on a Vanadium binge.
What it’s used for: Vanadium's most commonly used in conjunction with other metals. Its addition considerably increases the strength of steel, for example. It also gets along famously with that other Elemental favourite Titanium.
You might not know this but: Chickens and rats have a degree of Vanadium dependency. Quite what it does for both bird and beast zoologists aren't exactly sure. However, if you've got more chickens and/or rats than you want or need, restrict their access to Vanadium and their ability to reproduce will be halved.