Discovered : by A.M. del Rio in 1801 Isolated in Mexico City, Mexico Origin : The element is named after 'Vanadis', the old Norse name for the Scandinavian goddess Freyja. Description : A silvery metal that resists corrosion and is used in alloys and in steel, as well as on colour television screens. It is essential to some species, including humans, although we require very little - less than the 0.04 milligrammes (about a millionth of an ounce) we take in each day. Image : Goddess with Icelandic saga text.