Gridlocks – can you unlock the grid?
Vanadium
Before you answer the puzzles below fill in the table of four oxidation states of vanadium using:
+2
Mauve
3+
blue
V
Some people remember the sequence of colours as you reduce vanadium (V) by:
Yellow budgies go mad (yellow blue green mauve)
oxidation state
formula
+5
VO2
+4
VO
+3
V
+2
V
colour
+
yellow
2+
blue
3+
green
2+
mauve
Problem Solving Puzzle 1
Each row, column and 2 x 2 box contains information about the four oxidation states of vanadium listed
above. Use your problem solving skills and the answers in the table above to fill in the blank boxes.
oxidation state
formula
3+
2+
+5
+4
V
+3
+2
VO2
VO
2+
+
3+
V
2+
+
V
VO2
formula
V
VO
2+
mauve
yellow
blue
green
colour
Gridlocks – can you unlock the grid?
Puzzle 2
oxidation state
formula
3+
VO2
2+
VO
+4
+2
V
+3
+5
V
2+
V
VO
+
2+
3+
VO2
V
+
2+
yellow
green
blue
mauve
formula
colour
oxidation state
formula
Puzzle 3
2+
+4
+3
V
+2
+5
VO
+
VO2
VO
3+
2+
2+
V
V
formula
+
VO2
2+
3+
V
green
mauve
yellow
blue
colour