MOLYBDENUM

Be -Mo- is a chemical element with atomic number 42. The name is from Neo-Latin Molybdaenum, from Ancient Greek, meaning lead, itself proposed as a loanword from Anatolian Luvian and Lydian languages, since its ores were confused with lead ores. The free element, which is a silvery metal, has the sixth-highest melting point of any element. Molybdenum readily forms hard, stable carbides, and for this reason it is often used in high-strength steel alloys. Molybdenum does not occur as the free metal on Earth, but rather in various oxidation states in minerals. Industrially, molybdenum compounds are used in high pressure and high temperature applications, as pigments and catalysts. Malybdenum Catalysts are vital for refining crude oil and in the production of formaldehyde.