42Solid
Mo 95.96 Atomic mass · uTransition metals
Molybdenum
Molybdenum is a chemical element with symbol Mo and atomic number 42. The name is from Neo-Latin molybdaenum, from Ancient Greek Μόλυβδος molybdos, meaning lead, since its ores were confused with lead ores. Molybdenum minerals have been known throughout history, but the element was discovered (in the sense of differentiating it as a new entity from the mineral salts of other metals) in 1778 by Carl Wilhelm Scheele.
Discovery 1778 (Carl Wilhelm Scheele)
K2L8M18N13O1
Physical properties
Values for the element in its standard state.
- Density
- 10.28g/cm³
- Melting point
- 2,896K
- Boiling point
- 4,912K
- Atomic radius
- 145pm
- Bonding type
- Metallic
- Molar heat
- 24.06J/(mol·K)
Inside the atom
Electron arrangement and the energy behind its behavior.
Full electron configuration
1s, 2 electrons; 2s, 2 electrons; 2p, 6 electrons; 3s, 2 electrons; 3p, 6 electrons; 3d, 10 electrons; 4s, 2 electrons; 4p, 6 electrons; 4d, 5 electrons; 5s, 1 electrons;
[Kr] represents 36 core electrons. The full view shows them explicitly.
42 electrons Orbital order preserved from source
- Electronegativity
- 2.16Pauling scale
- First ionization energy
- 684kJ/mol
- Electron affinity
- 72kJ/mol
- Van der Waals radius
- Not available
Mo MolybdenumAtomic number 42
684kJ/mol
Atomic numberGaps indicate unavailable data
About molybdenum
- Appearance
- Gray metallic
- Discovery
- 1778 (Carl Wilhelm Scheele)
- Data source
- Read the reference
A missing value means it is unavailable in this reference dataset. Values can vary with measurement method and conditions.