Mo
Molybdenum is a hard transition metal essential as a trace element and used in steel alloys.
Physical Properties
| Atomic Mass | 95.95 u |
| Density | 10.22 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 2896.0 K |
| Boiling Point | 4912.0 K |
| Appearance | Gray metallic |
| State at Room Temp | Solid |
Chemical Properties
| Electronegativity | 2.16 (Pauling) |
| 1st Ionization Energy | 684.3 kJ/mol |
| Electron Affinity | 71.9 kJ/mol |
| Oxidation States | +1, +2, +3, +4, +5, +6 |
Atomic Properties
| Electron Configuration | [Kr] 4d5 5s1 |
| Atomic Radius | 139.0 pm |
| Covalent Radius | 154.0 pm |
| Van der Waals Radius | 209.0 pm |
Discovery
| Discovered By | Carl Wilhelm Scheele |
| Discovery Year | 1778 |
| Location | Uppsala, Sweden |
| Named After | Greek 'molybdos' meaning lead |
About Molybdenum
Molybdenum has the sixth-highest melting point of any element. It is an essential trace element in biology, found in certain enzymes. It is primarily used in high-strength steel alloys.
Uses & Applications
High-strength steel alloys, catalysts, lubricants (MoS2), missile and aircraft parts, and fertilizers.
Fun Fact
Molybdenum's name was confused for centuries with lead and graphite because they all left similar dark marks on paper.
Isotopes
| Mass Number | Abundance | Half-Life | Stable |
| 95 | 0.1592% | - | Yes |
| 96 | 0.1668% | - | Yes |
| 97 | 0.0955% | - | Yes |
| 98 | 0.2413% | - | Yes |
Electron Configuration
[Kr] 4d5 5s1