Molybdenum

Molybdenum is a transition metal. It is represented

by the symbol Mo. It is a pure metal that is is

silverish white in color and very hard, and has one of

the highest melting points of all pure elements at

4753 oF. Its boiling point is 8382 oF. Its density is

10280 kg/m3 and its hardness is 5.5. It has a molar

volume of 9.38 Ч10-6 m3/mol.

Molybdenum has an atomic weight of 95.94 amu. Its

atomic number is 42. The atomic radius is 145 pm and

the covalent radius is 145 pm also. Its electron

configuration is [Kr]4d^5 5s^1. It is a strong acid.

Its crystal structure is body centered cubic.

Over 2/3 of all molybdenum is used in alloys.

Molybdenum use increased a lot during World War I,

when demand for tungsten made tungsten rare, and

strong steels were at expensive. Molybdenum is used in

aircraft and missile parts, and in filaments.

Molybdenum acts as a catalyst in the petroleum

industry for removing organic sulfurs from petroleum

products.

Molybdenum is not found in nature, and the compounds

that can be found were, until the late 1700s confused

with