How Is Molybdenum Used?
Discovery Molybdenum is a silvery-white element that was first discovered by Swedish scientist Carl William Scheele in 1778. However, what he was actually looking at was an oxide of the element. In 1782, another scientist named Peter Hjelm prepared the element in a somewhat more isolated form, according to writers at Molybdenum Powder.com. Historical Use During World War I, the military needed stronger metals than what were available at the time. Molybdenum was used in steel alloys to reduce corrosion and damage to the metal, as well as alloys used for armor plating and transportation. As the need for the element grew, natural sources of it were researched, leading to the discovery of the large Climax deposit located in Colorado. Native molybdenum is usually in an oxide form. However, the element is also a by-product of tungsten and copper mining processes. Modern Use Currently, the element is still used in steel and stainless steel manufacturing, as it increases the metal’s strength a
