Molybdenum (Mo)
"The Unyielding Alloy-Master, Molybdenum forges the toughest metals, resisting the fiercest heats and pressures, making the world's most durable machines possible."
A memorable persona to anchor Mo in your mind.
10.28
Grams per cm³
2622
Celsius (°C)
209
Radius (pm)
Daily Life Link
It makes your car engine stronger and your drill bits tougher!
Discovery & History
Year Discovered
1781
Discovered By
Carl Wilhelm Scheele
Origin of Name
"The name is derived from the Greek ''molybdos'' meaning lead."
Technical Properties
Atomic Mass
95.95 u
Standard State
solid
Boiling Point
4639°C
Electron Configuration
[Kr] 4d55s1
1st Ionization Energy
7.092 eV
Electron Affinity
N/A
Oxidation States
"A sleek, silvery-white metal, tough enough to take a punch and still gleam."
Did You Know?
Molybdenum boasts the third-highest melting point of *all* elements (a scorching 2,623°C!), making it a true heat-defying champion.
Add just a small amount of Molybdenum to steel, and BOOM! You get super-strong alloys resistant to insane heat and corrosion, crucial for jet engines and missile parts.
Its atomic number is 42 – yes, the very 'Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything' from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy! Mind-blown yet?
Believe it or not, your body needs tiny traces of Molybdenum to help enzymes do their job, like breaking down certain toxins. It's a vital, microscopic hero!