Molybdenum

Molybdenum Will DuBose and Taylor DeRosa

1. What are its properties? It is a shiny metal, somewhat resembling silver, with a very high melting point of 2623 degrees Celsius.

2. How is it used? Due to its high melting point, it has the ability to withstand high heat, which is why it is used for armor, airplane and car parts, electrical wiring and appliances, and industrial motors.

3. How much is used in the US annually? Annually, about 50 metric tons of Molybdenum are used in the US.

4. What are the sources, and how is it extracted? Molybdenum is mined as a principal ore, and is also recovered as a byproduct of copper and tungsten mining. The major sources are in the United States, China, Chile, Peru and Canada. It is very abundant in the earth's crust.

5. How rare is it? (i. e. how much "reserves"?) Molybdenum is not very rare at all. It is the 42nd most abundant element and very common within the earths crust.

6. Are there substitutes? No there are not because it is a very abundant element no substitutes have been needed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molybdenum