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The secret of molybdenum: Why does it have the sixth highest melting point in nature?
Molybdenum is a chemical element with the symbol Mo and atomic number 42. It is a metal with extraordinary properties. "Μόλυβδος" in ancient Greek means lead, and molybdenum ore is often confused with lead ore, hence the name. Although there was a certain understanding of molybdenum ore in history, it was not until Swedish chemist Carl William Scheer discovered molybdenum in 1778 that this new element was clearly distinguished. Later, in 1781 Peter Jacob Helm isolated molybdenum metal for the first time.
Molybdenum is a metal that does not appear in a free state in nature, but exists in its ore in an oxidized state. Its metallic state appears silver-gray.
When it comes to molybdenum’s properties, one of the most striking is its melting point. Molybdenum has a melting point of 2623°C, making it the element with the sixth highest melting point in nature, after tantalum, osmium, tungsten, and carbon. The reason why the melting point of molybdenum metal is so high is closely related to its atomic structure, bonding method and interaction between metals.
Physical and chemical properties of molybdenum
Molybdenum is a transition metal with a medium hardness on the hammer scale, with a hardness of about 5.5 (Mohs hardness). Its atomic weight is 95.95 g/mol. At room temperature, molybdenum does not react significantly with oxygen or water, but at higher temperatures, oxidation reactions can occur. When heated to 300°C, molybdenum begins to undergo weak oxidation, and above 600°C, a more violent oxidation reaction occurs to produce molybdenum trioxide.
Because of molybdenum's high melting point and extreme thermal stability, it has become an important component in steel alloys, especially in high-strength and high-temperature-resistant alloys.
Biological and chemical roles of molybdenum
Molybdenum is not just a metal, it also plays an important role in biology. Molybdenum is an essential component of certain enzymes involved in breaking the chemical bonds of molecular nitrogen in the atmosphere and is one of the most common catalysts in biological nitrogen fixation. Furthermore, molybdenum is an essential element for all higher eukaryotes, including humans.
Applications of molybdenum
The amount of molybdenum used in alloys accounts for approximately 86% of global molybdenum production. Its metal's high temperature resistance and corrosion resistance make it an ideal material for military equipment, aircraft parts, industrial motors and other fields. Molybdenum is in considerable demand, especially in high-strength steel alloys, which are often used to make products with extreme heat and wear resistance.
For example, in military manufacturing, molybdenum is used as a material for rocket nozzles because it can withstand extremely high heat and pressure.
Origin and production
Molybdenum is the 54th most abundant element in the Earth's crust, with an average content of about one part per million. Globally, molybdenum is mainly extracted from molybdenum ore (MoS2), with the largest producers including China, the United States and Chile. According to data, global molybdenum production in 2011 was 250,000 tons, of which China produced approximately 94,000 tons.
Future Outlook
As the demand for metal materials such as titanium and tungsten grows, the market potential of molybdenum is also increasing, especially in high-tech fields such as aviation, aerospace, and nuclear energy. Future technological progress may further expand the application fields of molybdenum.
However, faced with such a high melting point metal, can molybdenum play a more important role in future materials science?
