Molybdenum

Molybdenum
Molybdenum block | Image: Learnool

Molybdenum (Mo) is a chemical element of the periodic table, located in the group 6 and the period 5, and has the atomic number 42. It is a hard, silvery-white transition metal, whose name comes from the Greek word “molybdos”, which means lead.

On periodic table

group 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
period
1 1
H
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Hydrogen
2
He
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Helium
2 3
Li
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Lithium
4
Be
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Beryllium
5
B
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Boron
6
C
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Carbon
7
N
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Nitrogen
8
O
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Oxygen
9
F
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Fluorine
10
Ne
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Neon
3 11
Na
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Sodium
12
Mg
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Magnesium
13
Al
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Aluminium
14
Si
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Silicon
15
P
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Phosphorus
16
S
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Sulfur
17
Cl
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Chlorine
18
Ar
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Argon
4 19
K
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Potassium
20
Ca
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Calcium
21
Sc
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Scandium
22
Ti
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Titanium
23
V
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Vanadium
24
Cr
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Chromium
25
Mn
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Manganese
26
Fe
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Iron
27
Co
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Cobalt
28
Ni
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Nickel
29
Cu
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Copper
30
Zn
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Zinc
31
Ga
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Gallium
32
Ge
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Germanium
33
As
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Arsenic
34
Se
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Selenium
35
Br
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Bromine
36
Kr
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Krypton
5 37
Rb
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Rubidium
38
Sr
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Strontium
39
Y
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Yttrium
40
Zr
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Zirconium
41
Nb
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Niobium
42
Mo
Molybdenum
43
Tc
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Technetium
44
Ru
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Ruthenium
45
Rh
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Rhodium
46
Pd
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Palladium
47
Ag
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Silver
48
Cd
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Cadmium
49
In
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Indium
50
Sn
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Tin
51
Sb
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Antimony
52
Te
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Tellurium
53
I
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Iodine
54
Xe
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Xenon
6 55
Cs
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Caesium
56
Ba
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Barium
72
Hf
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Hafnium
73
Ta
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Tantalum
74
W
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Tungsten
75
Re
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Rhenium
76
Os
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Osmium
77
Ir
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Iridium
78
Pt
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Platinum
79
Au
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Gold
80
Hg
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Mercury
81
Tl
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Thallium
82
Pb
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Lead
83
Bi
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Bismuth
84
Po
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Polonium
85
At
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Astatine
86
Rn
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Radon
7 87
Fr
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Francium
88
Ra
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Radium
104
Rf
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Rutherfordium
105
Db
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Dubnium
106
Sg
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Seaborgium
107
Bh
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Bohrium
108
Hs
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Hassium
109
Mt
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Meitnerium
110
Ds
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Darmstadtium
111
Rg
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Roentgenium
112
Cn
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Copernicium
113
Nh
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Nihonium
114
Fl
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Flerovium
115
Mc
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Moscovium
116
Lv
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Livermorium
117
Ts
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Tennessine
118
Og
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Oganesson
57
La
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Lanthanum
58
Ce
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Cerium
59
Pr
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Praseodymium
60
Nd
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Neodymium
61
Pm
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Promethium
62
Sm
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Samarium
63
Eu
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Europium
64
Gd
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Gadolinium
65
Tb
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Terbium
66
Dy
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Dysprosium
67
Ho
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Holmium
68
Er
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Erbium
69
Tm
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Thulium
70
Yb
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Ytterbium
71
Lu
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Lutetium
89
Ac
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Actinium
90
Th
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Thorium
91
Pa
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Protactinium
92
U
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Uranium
93
Np
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Neptunium
94
Pu
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Plutonium
95
Am
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Americium
96
Cm
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Curium
97
Bk
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Berkelium
98
Cf
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Californium
99
Es
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Einsteinium
100
Fm
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Fermium
101
Md
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Mendelevium
102
No
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Nobelium
103
Lr
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Lawrencium
– d block

Molybdenum is a d-block element, found in the sixth column and the fifth row of the periodic table. It has the atomic number 42 and is denoted by the symbol Mo.

Element information

Molybdenum Element
Molybdenum appearance | Image: Wikipedia
Molybdenum Periodic Table
Molybdenum location on periodic table | Image: Learnool
Molybdenum is found in the sixth column of the periodic table, next to the niobium element.
Origin of name Greek word “molybdos” (which means lead)
Symbol Mo
Atomic number (Z) 42
Atomic mass 95.95 u
Block d-block
Group 6
Period 5
Classification Transition metal
Atomic radius 139 pm
Covalent radius 154±5 pm
Melting point 2623 ℃, 4753 ℉, 2896 K
Boiling point 4639 ℃, 8382 ℉, 4912 K
Electron configuration [Kr] 4d5 5s1
Learn how to write: Molybdenum electron configuration
Electrons per shell 2, 8, 18, 13, 1
Learn how to draw: Molybdenum Bohr model
Crystal structure Body-centered cubic (bcc)
Phase at r.t Solid
Density near r.t 10.28 g/cm3
Main isotopes Molybdenum-92, Molybdenum-94, Molybdenum-95, Molybdenum-96, Molybdenum-97, Molybdenum-98
Natural occurrence Primordial
Oxidation state +4, +6
Electronegativity (Pauling scale) 2.16
Protons
Neutrons
Electrons
42
54
42
Learn how to find: Molybdenum protons neutrons electrons
CAS number 7439-98-7
Discovered by Carl Wilhelm Scheele in 1778

History

Carl Wilhelm Scheele | Image: Encyclopedia Britannica

Molybdenum was discovered by a Swedish scientist named Carl Wilhelm Scheele in 1778. However, its isolation and characterization were carried out by another Swedish chemist named Peter Jacob Hjelm in 1781. The name “molybdenum” is derived from the Greek word “molybdos,” which means “lead-like,” as it was originally mistaken for lead ore.

In the late 19th century, the use of molybdenum became more widespread with the discovery of its ability to strengthen steel alloys. During this time, molybdenum mining became more commercially viable, and it was also found to have uses in other industries such as electronics and agriculture.

Occurrence and production

Molybdenum is a relatively abundant element, with an estimated abundance in the Earth’s crust of 1.2 parts per million. It is found in various minerals, including molybdenite (MoS2), wulfenite (PbMoO4), and powellite (CaMoO4). The primary molybdenum-bearing mineral is molybdenite, which typically contains 60-90% molybdenum.

The largest producers of molybdenum are China, United States, Chile, Peru, and Canada. Molybdenum mining is typically carried out as an open-pit operation, although some deposits may be mined underground. After the ore is extracted from the mine, it is crushed and ground into fine particles. The molybdenum-containing mineral is then separated from the rest of the ore using flotation, a process that relies on the differential wettability of the minerals.

Once separated, the molybdenum concentrate is roasted in air to convert it to molybdenum oxide (MoO3), which can then be further refined into pure molybdenum metal through a series of chemical and metallurgical processes. Molybdenum is also produced as a by-product of copper mining, with the majority of by-product production occurring in Chile, United States, and Peru.

Properties

Molybdenum is a good conductor of heat and electricity.

It has a silvery-white appearance and is solid at room temperature.

Molybdenum has a high melting point of 2623 ℃ (4753 ℉) and a high boiling point of 4639 ℃ (8382 ℉).

It has a density of 10.28 g/cm3, which is higher than most other transition metals.

Molybdenum has a very high modulus of elasticity and is incredibly strong and resistant to wear and corrosion.

It is also highly resistant to corrosion, making it useful in environments where corrosive materials are present.

Molybdenum has a unique ability to withstand extreme temperatures and is used in applications that require high-temperature resistance.

Molybdenum is paramagnetic and does not react with air or water at room temperature.

Applications

One of the most important uses of molybdenum is in the production of high-strength alloys that are used in aircraft parts, electrical contacts, and industrial motors. Molybdenum alloys can also be found in the production of missile and rocket parts, and in the construction of nuclear reactors and power plants.

In the manufacturing industry, molybdenum is often used as a lubricant, particularly in extreme conditions such as high pressure and high temperatures. Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is a popular solid lubricant due to its low coefficient of friction, resistance to wear and tear, and high thermal stability. It is often used in heavy-duty machinery, mining equipment, and drilling tools.

Molybdenum is also used in the production of electronic components such as transistors, diodes, and capacitors. This is due to its high electrical conductivity and low thermal expansion, which make it a good choice for electronic devices that operate at high temperatures. Molybdenum is also used as a filament in incandescent light bulbs and in the production of flat panel displays.

In the medical field, molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) is used to produce technetium-99m (Tc-99m), which is a radioactive isotope used in medical imaging. Tc-99m is used in over 80% of all nuclear medicine procedures and is particularly useful for imaging bone, heart, and brain tissue.

Molybdenum is also used in the agricultural industry as a micronutrient for plants. Molybdenum deficiency in plants can lead to reduced growth and yield, and supplementing soil with molybdenum can help improve plant health and productivity.

Interesting facts

Molybdenum has the sixth-highest melting point of any element and is used in high-temperature applications, such as jet engines and gas turbines.

Molybdenum is an essential trace element for animals and plants, and it plays a crucial role in nitrogen fixation and metabolism.

Molybdenum is used in the petroleum industry to remove sulfur from crude oil, which helps reduce air pollution.

Molybdenum disulfide is a solid lubricant that can withstand high temperatures and pressures, making it useful in industrial applications.

The isotope molybdenum-99 is used in medical imaging, specifically in nuclear medicine to image the heart, liver, and kidneys.

Molybdenum has a relatively low toxicity to humans, and in fact, it is often found in dietary supplements.

Molybdenum has been used in ancient times, as evidenced by molybdenum artifacts found in a burial site in northern Iran dating back to the 3rd millennium BC.

Molybdenum is widely distributed in the Earth’s crust and is found in various minerals, including molybdenite, wulfenite, and powellite.

Related

More elements

s block
p block
d block
f block
Barium Aluminium Bohrium Actinium
Beryllium Antimony Cadmium Americium
Caesium Argon Chromium Berkelium
Calcium Arsenic Cobalt Californium
Francium Astatine Copernicium Cerium
Helium Bismuth Copper Curium
Hydrogen Boron Darmstadtium Dysprosium
Lithium Bromine Dubnium Einsteinium
Magnesium Carbon Gold Erbium
Potassium Chlorine Hafnium Europium
Radium Flerovium Hassium Fermium
Rubidium Fluorine Iridium Gadolinium
Sodium Gallium Iron Holmium
Strontium Germanium Lawrencium Lanthanum
Indium Lutetium Mendelevium
Iodine Manganese Neodymium
Krypton Meitnerium Neptunium
Lead Mercury Nobelium
Livermorium Molybdenum Plutonium
Moscovium Nickel Praseodymium
Neon Niobium Promethium
Nihonium Osmium Protactinium
Nitrogen Palladium Samarium
Oganesson Platinum Terbium
Oxygen Rhenium Thorium
Phosphorus Rhodium Thulium
Polonium Roentgenium Uranium
Radon Ruthenium Ytterbium
Selenium Rutherfordium
Silicon Scandium
Sulfur Seaborgium
Tellurium Silver
Tennessine Tantalum
Thallium Technetium
Tin Titanium
Xenon Tungsten
Vanadium
Yttrium
Zinc
Zirconium

External links

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Learnool.com was founded by Deep Rana, who is a mechanical engineer by profession and a blogger by passion. He has a good conceptual knowledge on different educational topics and he provides the same on this website. He loves to learn something new everyday and believes that the best utilization of free time is developing a new skill.

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