Molybdenum disulphide, also known as molybdenite is a black, soft mineral which was often mistaken for graphite or lead ore until 1778. Carl Scheele, a German chemist, analyzed the mineral and revealed that it was neither of these substances, and was in fact, a totally new element.
Molybdenum plays an important role in living organisms. The element is vital for the enzymes in bacteria to undergo nitrogen fixation.
There are approximately fifty molybdenum-containing enzymes, which are found in both bacteria and animals. Molybdenum is used in the production of many alloys due to its ability to withstand extreme temperatures. Therefore, it is used in the manufacture of military armour, aircraft parts, electrical contacts, industrial motors, and filaments.
The element is recovered as a by-product of copper or tungsten mining. Molybdenum is not a naturally occurring element; however, it is found in its different states within other minerals.
Molybdenum is the 54th most commonly occurring element in the earth’s oceans. Russia’s Luna 24 space mission discovered samples of molybdenum on the moon too.
The atomic number of Molybdenum is 42, and the atomic symbol is Mo.
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