- The most common ore occurs when molybdenum mixes with sulfur to form molybdenum disulfide. Wulfenite and powellite are the other two ores frequently found in nature. Wulfenite has the chemical formula of Pb[MoO4], which indicates a mineral combination of lead with a molybdate molecule. In this compound one atom of molybdenum combines with four oxygen atoms to make the molybdate. In powellite, the same molybdate molecule combines with calcium instead of lead.
- Molybdenum is one of the many transition metals on the periodic chart. This means the element has several oxidation states in which it can absorb electrons from other elements, such as oxygen, to create complex ions. Molybdenum does this frequently to create complicated molecular alignments, featuring numerous atoms of molybdenum.
- Molybdenum in its pure form is used as an ingredient in lubricants, X-ray tubes, electronic tubes and electric furnaces. At other times, molybdenum minerals are converted to molybdic oxide (MoO3) and added to molten steel to increase strength and durability. In another scenario, molydenum is dissolved in ammonia hydroxide to form ammonium molybdate, (NH4)2Mo2O7. This ammonia salt can then be used in other chemical processes and as a paint pigment.
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