Molybdenum, a silvery white metal with atomic number 42, is mainly used in alloy steel due to its high melting point. The US is a major producer and uses it for stainless steel and construction machinery. It is also important for plant growth but excessive amounts are toxic.
Discovered in 1778 by the Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele and isolated in 1781 by Peter Jacob Hjelm, molybdenum is mainly used as a component of alloy steel. A silvery white metal with an atomic number of 42, it is solid at room temperature, has an atomic mass of 95.94 and appears in the periodic table of elements under the chemical symbol of “Mo”. Due to its softness, color and greasy texture, it was originally mistaken for a lead compound. Its name, derived from molybdos, the Greek word for lead, reflects this.
One of molybdenum’s most unique and therefore useful qualities is its extremely high melting point: 4753°F (2623°C or 2896 K). In fact, compared to other pure elements, it has one of the highest melting points. Because of its ability to withstand extremely high temperatures, molybdenum is used in the manufacture of rockets, aircraft, spaceships, gun barrels, light bulb filaments, and furnace components.
In the United States, about two-thirds of molybdenum is used to make stainless and alloy steel. Stainless steel, resistant to rust and corrosion, is used, for example, in water distribution systems and catering equipment. Durable alloy steels are used in forming automotive parts and construction machinery. Added to steel alloys, molybdenum forms an extremely strong product that can withstand high temperatures. It can also be used as a smoke and flame retardant, corrosion inhibitor, dry lubricant and chemical catalyst in some applications in the petroleum industry.
The United States is a significant source of the world’s molybdenum, drawing from mines in Colorado, New Mexico and Idaho. Other prolific producers around the world include China, Canada, Peru and Russia. The metal can be mined directly, harvested from mineral sources such as molybdenite or molybdenum sulfide (MoS2), obtained as a by-product of copper mining, and recovered from the ore wulfenite (PbMoO4).
Molybdenum is also biologically important as it facilitates the process of nitrogen uptake in plants. For soil to support plant life, it must contain a satisfactory level of this mineral. Trace amounts in the diet are also needed to promote growth in animals; excessive amounts, however, are toxic. As a result, in the United States, workplace exposure is regulated by both the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
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