Reactions of potassium monoxide with the oxides of vanadium

Abstract

The alkali-rich portion of the K₂O–V₂O₅ system has been investigated by the reaction of various potassium oxo-compounds with vanadium pentoxide. The compounds KVO₃, K₃₂V₁₈O₆₁, K₄V₂O₇, and K₃VO₄ lose oxygen and three forms of the compound K₃VO₄ were established. Both oxidations and disproportionations were observed for the K₂O–VO₂ system, and a new compound KVO₂ was found in the reaction of equimolar mixtures of the monoxide K₂O and vanadium dioxide. The lower oxides of vanadium and vanadium metal were oxidised by potassium monoxide to the vanadate K₃VO₄. The reactions of potassium monoxide are compared with those of sodium oxide for the same stoicheiometry.