uses of molybdenum
There are two main uses of molybdenum:
Metal
Molybdenum is often used in metals "because of its corrosion resistance, strength and durability" (Bell, 2011). It is also used in metals because of its high melting temperature. This is particularly useful in artillery. In the first World War, the Germans were the first to use molybdenum in their weapons. They discovered that "molybdenum not only strengthened steels, but made steels that were able to tolerate and hold their shape in extreme heat" (Bell, 2011). (Bell, 2011) Below is a chart showing the distribution of molybdenum. Molybdenum is mostly used in metal products, the two biggest categories being stainless steel and construction steel. |
Micronutrient- Food and Agriculture
Molybdenum is used as a fertilizer in many crops. If the concentration of molybdenum in the soil is low, the crop will respond well to the fertilizer. "Molybdenum plays an important role in nitrogen metabolism within the plant" (OMAF, 2012). According to tests done by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (2012), beets, broccoli, lettuce, cauliflower, onion, and spinach all reacted well with a molybdenum fertilizer. This means that the concentration of molybdenum in the soil was low. Although molybdenum is an essential nutrient for plants, it can harm them as well. Like anything, there can be too much molybdenum in the soil which makes the plants and animals unhealthy. When there is livestock living and eating on land that is poisoned by high concentrations of molybdenum, they "are often subject to acute scouring" (OMAF, 2012). In order to make the animals healthy again, they must be fed copper (OMAF, 2012). |