Molybdenum is a transition element, which easily changes its oxidation state and plays a role of electron transfer in the REDOX reaction in the body. In the form of oxidation, molybdenum is most likely in a +6 state. Although it will most likely revert to a +5 state first during electron transfer. But other oxidation states of molybdenum have been found in reduced enzymes. Molybdenum is a component of xanthine oxidase/dehydrogenase, aldehyde oxidase and sulfite oxidase, so it is a necessary microelement for human body, animal and plant.
The main mineral is molybdenite (MoS2).Natural molybdenite MoS2 is a soft black mineral that resembles graphite in appearance. Before the end of the 18th century, both were sold as "molybdenite" on the European market. In 1779, scheele pointed out that graphite and molybdenite were two very different substances. He found that nitric acid had no effect on graphite, but reacted with molybdenum oxide to produce a chalky white powder that was boiled with an alkali solution and crystallized into a salt. He thinks the white powder is a metal oxide, mixed with charcoal and heated strongly, without metal, but heated with sulfur to get the original molybdenum. In 1782, elm, a Swedish mine owner, separated the metal from molybdenum and named it molybdenum, with the element symbol Mo.
Molybdenum does not react with hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid and alkali solution at room temperature, and only dissolves in nitric acid, aqua Regina or concentrated sulfuric acid. Therefore, molybdenum and its alloys are widely used and have good prospects in metallurgy, agriculture, electrical, chemical, environmental protection, aerospace and other important sectors, and become an important raw material and irreplaceable strategic material in the national economy.
China was the world's largest producer of molybdenum in 2017, followed by Chile, which produced about 58,000 tons of molybdenum in 2017, accounting for 20 percent of global output, according to the 2018-2023 China molybdenum market analysis and investment outlook research report released by booz. The United States subsequently produced about 44,600 tons per year in 2017, accounting for 15.37 percent.
