He graduated from the Kyiv Pharmaceutical Institute in 1931 and was recommended for further scientific work at the post-graduate school of the Institute of Chemistry, which he graduated in 1934. His Ph.D. dissertation on the topic "Electrochemistry of iodine solutions" was successfully defended in 1937, after which he began of X-ray diffraction research in which he has long been interested. He organized the X-ray laboratory at the Institute. During this period, V.P. Chalyi investigated the structure of triple methanol catalysts, as well as aluminum halides and their complex compounds by X-ray methods. Seven years later (when the World War II ended and he is back from the Red Army), he restored the X-ray structural laboratory at the institute. He investigated the structure of loose cathode sediments, reactions between oxides and metal hydroxides in the solid state, and the relationship between the most important characteristics of metal hydroxides. The theoretical investigations allowed V.P. Chalyi to offer a "hydroxide technology" for the synthesis of especially important ferrites, to defend his doctoral dissertation (in 1969) and to become the head of the Department of Structural Research.
The main direction of scientific work of V.P.Chaly is the investigation of systems of metal hydroxides, establishment of regularities between conditions of precipitation, composition and properties of metal hydroxides with the purpose of preparation of ferrites, which are important inorganic materials that have become widely used in modern electronic equipment. He is the author of 140 scientific works, and the monograph "Hydroxides of Metals". Awarded two Orders "Red Star", the Order of the "Badge of Honor", medals, certificates of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Ukrainian SSR and the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR.
He worked at the institute until 1986. Died on 8.08.2001.