Molybdenum

Transition Metal

Atomic Number: 42 • Atomic Mass: 95.9500 u • Period: 5 • Group: 6

Electron Configuration: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s¹ 4d⁵

Phase: Solid

Electronegativity: 2.16

History

Molybdenum has been known since ancient times

Molybdenum minerals were confused with lead ores and graphite for centuries

Carl Wilhelm Scheele identified molybdenum as a distinct element in 1778

First isolated by Peter Jacob Hjelm in 1781