Molybdenum

Atomic number

42

Atomic mass (u)

95.95

Category

Transition metal

Standard state

Solid

Melting point

2622.85 °C (2896 K)

Boiling point

4638.85 °C (4912 K)

Density (g/cm³)

10.2

Electronegativity (Pauling)

2.16

Electron configuration

[Kr]5s1 4d5

Oxidation states

+6

Atomic radius (pm)

209

First ionization energy (eV)

7.092

Discovery & recognition

Discovery year / period (PubChem)

1778

Discovery credited to (RSC)

Peter Jacob Hjelm

Date or period recorded by RSC

1781

Discovery place

Not supplied in the structured record; see the RSC history source.

An ancient date does not identify a first human discovery. Different references may date observation, isolation and formal recognition differently.

Natural occurrence & production

The creation of an element’s nuclei and its concentration into terrestrial deposits are different processes. The occurrence note below concerns its presence or production on Earth; it is not a complete account of nucleosynthesis.

“The main molybdenum ore is molybdenite (molybdenum disulfide).”

Royal Society of Chemistry · occurrence excerpt ↗

Continue the research

Reference values are not product specifications. Blank values have not been estimated. For superheavy elements, some properties and family assignments are theoretical or incompletely measured.