Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Metavanadate

Abstract

X-Ray, infrared, and electron spin resonance (e.s.r.) studies were made on the samples prepared by the thermal decomposition of ammonium metavanadate at various temperatures between 100 and 700 °C. A new intermediate compound has been identified to be formed between 100 and 150 °C. This new compound is stable up to 200 °C, and is a complex ammonium–vanadyl compound, since while the infrared studies showed the presence of an NH 4 group, and V—N bond, the e.s.r. gave the signal of VO 2+ ions (V 4+ + O 2− = VO 2+ ). A mechanism of the decomposition of ammonium metavanadate has been given.