Molybdenum Compounds

Abstract

The chemistry of molybdenum (Mo) is among the most diverse of the transition metals. Molybdenum is found naturally mostly as the disulfide. Molybdenum forms binary compounds with many nonmetallic elements and a number of these, namely halides, oxides, sulfides, carbides, nitrides, and silicides are of interest. The most important oxidation states are VI, V, IV, III, II, and 0.Molybdenum is an essential component of many enzymes and plays an important role in nitrogen fixation and nitrite reduction in bacteria and plants and sulfite and xanthine oxidation for microorganisms, plants and animals. Molybdenum compounds are important in lubrication where the disulfide and oil‐soluble Mo sulfur complexes serve as antifriction and antiwear agents. Mo compounds are also used in hydrodesulfurization and hydrotreating catalysis, as oxidation catalysts, in coatings, paints, and pigments as anticorrosion agents, as smoke suppressants, as a soil nutrient, and in nuclear medicine.

Pretreatment Effects on the Surface Chemistry of Small Oxygenates on Molybdenum Trioxide

“…Heating in inert flow caused the sample to turn slightly blue at around 250 °C, which continued to intensify up to the final temperature of 450 °C indicating progressive reduction. In hydrogen flow, the sample turned a dark violet shade similar to MoO 2 …”