Periodic Table of Elements

Element Molybdenum - Mo

Comprehensive data on the chemical element Molybdenum is provided on this page; including scores of properties, element names in many languages, most known nuclides of Molybdenum. Common chemical compounds are also provided for many elements. In addition technical terms are linked to their definitions and the menu contains links to related articles that are a great aid in one's studies.

Molybdenum Menu

Overview of Molybdenum

Molybdenum's Name in Other Languages

  • Latin: Molybdaenum
  • Czech: Molybden
  • Croatian: Molibden
  • French: Molybdéne
  • German: Molybdän - r
  • Italian: Molibdeno
  • Norwegian: Molybden
  • Portuguese: Molibdênio
  • Russian: Молибден
  • Spanish: Molibdeno
  • Swedish: Molybden

Atomic Structure of Molybdenum

Chemical Properties of Molybdenum

Physical Properties of Molybdenum

  • Atomic Mass Average: 95.94
  • Boiling Point: 4885K 4612°C 8334°F
  • Coefficient of lineal thermal expansion/K-1: 5.43E-6
  • Conductivity
    Electrical: 0.187 106/cm Ω
    Thermal: 1.38 W/cmK
  • Density: 10.22g/cc @ 300K
  • Description:
    Hard silvery-white transition metal.
  • Elastic Modulus:
    • Bulk: 261.2/GPa
    • Rigidity: 125.6/GPa
    • Youngs: 324.8/GPa
  • Enthalpy of Atomization: 653 kJ/mole @ 25°C
  • Enthalpy of Fusion: 27.61 kJ/mole
  • Enthalpy of Vaporization: 594.1 kJ/mole
  • Flammablity Class: Combusrible Solid in powder form
  • Freezing Point: see melting point
  • Hardness Scale
    • Brinell: 1500 MN m-2
    • Mohs: 5.5
    • Vickers: 1530 MN m-2
  • Heat of Vaporization: 598kJ/mol
  • Melting Point: 2890K 2617°C 4743°F
  • Molar Volume: 9.41 cm3/mole
  • Optical Reflectivity: 58%
  • Physical State (at 20°C & 1atm): Solid
  • Specific Heat: 0.25J/gK
  • Vapor Pressure = 3.47Pa@2617°C

Regulatory / Health

  • CAS Number
    • 7439-98-7
  • RTECS: QA4680000
  • OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
  • OSHA PEL Vacated 1989
  • NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)
  • Routes of Exposure: Inhalation; Ingestion; Skin and/or eye contact
  • Target Organs: Eyes, respiratory system, liver, kidneys
  • Levels In Humans:
    Note: this data represents naturally occuring levels of elements in the typical human, it DOES NOT represent recommended daily allowances.
    • Blood/mg dm-3: 0.001
    • Bone/p.p.m: <0.7
    • Liver/p.p.m: 1.3-5.8
    • Muscle/p.p.m: 0.018
    • Daily Dietary Intake: 0.05-0.35 mg
    • Total Mass In Avg. 70kg human: 5 mg

Who / Where / When / How

  • Discoverer: Carl Wilhelm ScheeleP.J. Hjelm
  • Discovery Location: Uppsala Sweden
  • Discovery Year: 1781
  • Name Origin:
    Greek: molubdos (lead).
  • Abundance of Molybdenum:
    • Earth's Crust/p.p.m.: 1.5
    • Seawater/p.p.m.: 0.01
    • Atmosphere/p.p.m.: N/A
    • Sun (Relative to H=1E12): 145
  • Sources of Molybdenum:
    Found in the minerals molybdenite (MoS2) and wulfenite (MoO4Pb) also produced as a by-product of copper production. Annual world wide production is around 80,000 tons. Primary mining areas are USA, Australia, Italy, Norway, Bolivia.
  • Uses of Molybdenum:
    Used in steel, aircraft, missiles, filaments in electric heaters, lubricants and protective coatings in boiler plates.
  • Additional Notes:

Molybdenum Menu

References

A list of reference sources used to compile the data provided on our periodic table of elements can be found on the main periodic table page.

Related Resources

Citing this page

If you need to cite this page, you can copy this text: