M for Molybdenum

This is the 13th in the series of 26 posts this month, one post a day, barring four Sundays, each on a theme corresponding to a letter of the English alphabet. My theme this year is "Chemicals in our life", spurred by my interest in chemistry.

Though there is magnesium and manganese, I thought of doing molybdenum because it's not one we keep hearing about.

Molybdenum is a silver-gray metal with atomic number 42 and symbol is Mo.

It was discovered by Carl Wilhelm Scheele in 1778, but it was not isolated until 1781 by Peter Jacob Hjelm. 

The name comes from the Greek word molybdos, meaning lead, because molybdenum ores were often confused with lead ores.

Molybdenum has a very high melting point of 2,623°C and a boiling point of 4,639°C.

It's a good conductor of heat and electricity, and is also paramagnetic, meaning it is weakly attracted by a magnetic field.

Molybdenum has many uses in our daily life, and it is an essential element for various industries.

It is an essential trace element for most organisms and plays a key role in several biological processes. It is found in various enzymes that catalyze important reactions involving nitrogen, sulfur, and carbon metabolism. 

Molybdenum deficiency is rare in humans but can cause serious health problems such as neurological disorders and mental retardation. It can result from genetic mutations or dietary insufficiency. 

Molybdenum excess can also be harmful, as it can interfere with copper metabolism and cause copper deficiency.

Its uses:

- in the medical industry to produce some medical devices, such as pacemakers, hip replacements, and dental implants. It is also used in common medications.

- to produce high-strength and corrosion-resistant steel alloys. It is an essential component in the production of aircraft parts, turbine parts, and structural steel beams. 

- in the production of syngas, which is a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Syngas is used to produce chemicals such as methanol, ammonia, and other organic compounds.

- in the lighting industry to make filaments for incandescent bulbs. The filaments of incandescent bulbs are made of tungsten, which is mixed with small amounts of Molybdenum to increase its strength and flexibility.

- in the nuclear energy industry to produce reactor-grade materials. It is used in the production of fuel rods, control rods, and reactor vessel components. Molybdenum is also used as a neutron absorber in nuclear power plants.

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Aircraft image from Pixabay

The information provided in this post has been obtained from multiple, authentic resources. However, it is presented in an abridged format and might not have all the details. Therefore, before acting on any information, readers are requested to exercise caution and do further research.

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2023. I am also on A2Z April Challenge.