Vanadates

salts of vanadic acids; also derivatives of vanadium pentoxide, V₂0₅. Vanadic acids themselves have not been produced in the free state. Vanadates are formed when V₂0₅ is dissolved in alkalies:

V₂O₅ + 2NaOH = 2NaVO₃ + H₂O

Vanadates are important in the manufacture of vanadium [it is isolated from a solution such as Ca(V0₃)₂ and NH₄VO₃]. They are used in the textile industry as a mordant in dyeing cotton cloth and for fixing aniline on silk.