Vanadium(III) oxide

Vanadium(III) oxide is the inorganic compound with the formula V2O3. It is a black solid prepared by reduction of V2O5 with hydrogen or carbon monoxide. It is a basic oxide dissolving in acids to give solutions of vanadium (III) complexes. V2O3 has the corundum structure. It is antiferromagnetic with a critical temperature of 160 K. At this temperature there is an abrupt change in conductivity from metallic to insulating. This also distorts the crystal structure to a monoclinic space group: C2/c.

Upon exposure to air it gradually converts into indigo-blue V2O4.

In nature it occurs as the rare mineral karelianite.