[2] The compound is prepared by the addition of ammonium salts to solutions of vanadate ions, generated by dissolution of V2O5 in basic aqueous solutions, such as hot sodium carbonate.

The compound adopts a polymeric structure consisting of chains of [VO3]−, formed as corner-sharing VO4 tetrahedra.

[5] Vanadium is often purified from aqueous extracts of slags and ore by selective precipitation of ammonium metavanadate.

The material is then roasted to give vanadium pentoxide:[2] Vanadates can behave as structural mimics of phosphates, and in this way they exhibit biological activity.

[6][7] Ammonium metavanadate is used to prepare Mandelin reagent, a qualitative test for alkaloids.