Molybdenum

molybdenum

koechlinite

powellite

wulfenite

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Formula: Mo
Element, does not exist in the native state. When present in compounds, molybdenum exists mostly in the oxidation state Mo⁴⁺ or Mo⁶⁺ (ChC).
Abundance in the Earth’s crust: 1.2 parts per million by weight, 0.2 parts per million by moles (ChC).


Molybdenum-bearing minerals include:

Alloys - an alloy is a substance that combines more than one metal or mixes a metal with other non-metallic elements
Borides - borides are usually covalent rather than ionic
Phosphides - the phosphide ion is P^3-
Sulphides - the sulphide anion is S^2-
Oxides - the oxide anion is O^2-
Chlorides - the chloride anion is Cl^-
Molybdates - the molybdate anion is (Mo⁶⁺O₄)^2-

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