Molybdenum is a chemical element belonging to the group of transition metals. Its chemical symbol is Mo and its atomic number is 42. Its most common oxidation state is +6.

Molybdenum is a white-grey metal in its pure state. It is very hard and ductile and has low electrical conductivity. It also has a high resistance to corrosion and heat and can be used at high temperatures (up to 1000°C). Molybdenum is the 24th most abundant element in the earth's crust and is present in various minerals.

Molybdenum is used in many industrial and commercial applications, including the manufacture of alloys, the production of stainless steels, the production of catalysts and the manufacture of lubricants. It is also used in the nuclear and astronautical industry, due to its high resistance to heat and corrosion. Molybdenum is also used in medicine as an isotopic tracer for organ diagnosis and mapping.

2617°
5560°

95.95

-2
-1
1
2
3
4
5
6

[Kr] 4d5 5s1

2
8
18
13
1

2.16

7.0924

Synthetic

Radioactive

Liquid

Gaseous

Electronic configuration diagram

Characteristics

Name	Molybdenum
Number	42
Atomic	95.95
Symbol	Mo
Fusion	2617
Boiling	5560
Density	10.22
Period	5
Group	6

Discovery	1778 Scheele
Abundance	1.2
Radius	2
Electronegativity	2.16
Ionization	7.0924
Number of isotopes	20
Electronic configuration	[Kr] 4d5 5s1
Oxidation states	-2,-1,1,2,3,4,5,6
Electron by energy level	2,8,18,13,1

Minerals containing this element : 67

Mineral	Hardness	Density
Bamfordite	2.00 / 3.00	3.62
Betpakdalite-CaCa	3.00 / 3.00	2.91
Betpakdalite-CaMg	3.50 / 3.50	2.94
Betpakdalite-NaCa		2.89
Betpakdalite-NaNa	3.00 / 3.00	2.88
Biehlite	1.00 / 1.50
Calcurmolite
Chiluite	3.00 / 3.00	3.65
Cousinite
Cupromolybdite	3.00 / 3.00	4.51
Deloryite	4.00 / 4.00	4.90
Drysdallite	1.00 / 1.50	6.25
Ekplexite	1.00 / 1.00	3.63
Ferrimolybdite	2.50 / 3.00	4.00
Gelosaite	3.00 / 3.00	5.11
Hemusite	4.00 / 4.00	4.47
Hereroite		8.15
Hexamolybdenum		11.90
Huenite
Ichnusaite		4.26
Ilsemannite	5.50 / 6.00
Iriginite	1.00 / 2.00	3.84
Iseite
Jordisite	1.00 / 2.00
Kamiokite	4.50 / 4.50	5.96
Kaskasite	1.00 / 1.00	3.83
Koechlinite		8.26
Lindgrenite	4.50 / 4.50	4.26
Maikainite	4.00 / 4.00	4.45
Majindeite		5.54
Mambertiite
Manganokaskasite	1.00 / 1.00	4.09
Markascherite	3.50 / 4.00	4.22
Melkovite	3.00 / 3.00	2.97
Mendozavilite-KCa	2.50 / 2.50
Mendozavilite-NaCu	2.50 / 2.50
Mendozavilite-NaFe	1.50 / 1.50	2.95
Moluranite	3.00 / 4.00	4.00
Molybdenite	1.00 / 1.00	5.50
Molybdenum
Molybdite	3.00 / 4.00	4.72
Molybdofornacite	2.00 / 3.00	6.60
Monipite
Mosesite	3.00 / 4.00	7.72
Mourite	3.00 / 3.00	4.17
Nuragheite		5.15
Obradovicite-KCu	2.50 / 2.50	3.68
Obradovicite-NaCu	2.00 / 2.00
Obradovicite-NaNa	2.00 / 2.00
Ovamboite	3.50 / 3.50	4.74
Paramendozavilite	1.00 / 1.00	3.35
Parkinsonite	2.00 / 2.50	7.32
Powellite	3.50 / 3.50	4.34
Sardignaite	3.00 / 3.00	4.82
Schlegelite	3.50 / 3.50	7.23
Sedovite	3.00 / 3.00	4.20
Sidwillite	2.50 / 2.50	3.12
Suseinargiuite
Szenicsite	3.50 / 4.00	4.26
Tancaite-(Ce)
Tarkianite	5.50 / 6.00	7.30
Tengchongite	2.00 / 2.50	4.25
Tugarinovite	4.60 / 4.60	6.00
Umohoite	2.00 / 2.00	4.55
Vajdakite		3.50
Vergasovaite	4.00 / 5.00
Wulfenite	2.50 / 3.00	6.50