Why does vanadium pentoxide act as a catalyst?

Why does vanadium pentoxide acts as a catalyst?

Why vanadium pentoxide is considered as a better catalyst than platinised asbestos ?

Vanadium pentoxide is coloured. Why?

A compound of vanadium pentoxide (V_2O_5) is used as catalyst: How vanadium ion is represented?

A compound of vanadium pentoxide (V_2O_5) is used as catalyst: Write thesub-shell electronic configur-ation of this ion (V- 23)