Mo
95.950Molybdenum
Molibden
Molybdenum is a transition metal with atomic number 42. It is valued in steel alloys, molybdenum disulfide lubricants, petroleum catalysts, molybdenum enzymes and the molybdenum-99 to technetium-99m medical isotope system.
42
95.95 g/mol
[Kr] 4d⁵ 5s¹
2 | 8 | 18 | 13 | 1
2.16
10.28 g/cm³
2622.8 °C
4638.9 °C
Carl Wilhelm Scheele
Molybdenum was identified after molybdenite was shown to be different from graphite and lead minerals. Carl Wilhelm Scheele described molybdic acid, and Peter Jacob Hjelm isolated the metal in the 18th century.
Molybdenum-92
Natural abundance: About 14.5%. Stable isotope of molybdenum.Molybdenum-94
Natural abundance: About 9.2%. Stable isotope of molybdenum.Molybdenum-95
Natural abundance: About 15.8%. Stable isotope used in NMR studies.Molybdenum-96
Natural abundance: About 16.7%. Stable isotope of molybdenum.Molybdenum-97
Natural abundance: About 9.6%. Stable isotope of molybdenum.Molybdenum-98
Natural abundance: About 24.4%. The most abundant stable isotope of molybdenum.Molybdenum-100
Natural abundance: About 9.8%. Long-lived isotope studied in double beta decay research.MoS₂
Molybdenum DisulfideLayered dry lubricant and hydrodesulfurization catalyst material.MoO₃
Molybdenum TrioxidePrecursor for molybdenum metal, catalysts and chemical products.(NH₄)₂MoO₄
Ammonium MolybdateAnalytical reagent and molybdenum source for fertilizers and catalysts.- Steel alloys that need high strength, hardness and heat resistance
- Molybdenum disulfide dry lubricants for high-load and vacuum conditions
- Hydrodesulfurization catalysts in petroleum refining
- Molybdenum-99 production for technetium-99m medical imaging
- High-temperature furnace parts, electrodes and specialty electronics
Molybdenum is an essential trace element. It is part of molybdenum cofactors in enzymes such as sulfite oxidase, xanthine oxidase and nitrate reductase, and it is central to nitrogenase chemistry in some nitrogen-fixing microbes.
- Molybdenum has the electron configuration [Kr] 4d⁵ 5s¹, similar to chromium’s half-filled d-subshell pattern.
- MoS₂ works as a dry lubricant because its layers slide over each other.
- Molybdenum-99 is the parent isotope used to generate technetium-99m for nuclear medicine.
- Molybdenum enzymes connect this element directly to sulfur, nitrogen and purine metabolism.
- Molybdenum has atomic number 42 and belongs to group 6.
- Its electron configuration is [Kr] 4d⁵ 5s¹.
- Common oxidation states include +6 and +4.
- MoS₂ should be treated as a compound, not an allotrope.
What is the atomic number of molybdenum?
The atomic number of molybdenum is 42.
What is the electron configuration of molybdenum?
Molybdenum has the electron configuration [Kr] 4d⁵ 5s¹.
What is molybdenum used for?
Molybdenum is used in steel alloys, dry lubricants, petroleum catalysts, high-temperature parts and medical isotope production.
Why is molybdenum biologically important?
Molybdenum is needed in molybdenum cofactors used by enzymes involved in sulfur detoxification, nitrogen metabolism and redox reactions.
What is molybdenum disulfide used for?
Molybdenum disulfide, MoS₂, is used as a dry lubricant and as a catalyst-related material because of its layered structure.
How is molybdenum-99 related to technetium-99m?
Molybdenum-99 decays to technetium-99m, the widely used diagnostic isotope in nuclear medicine.