MoS2 concentrate is roasted to MoO3, which sublimes and is captured pure; ammonia leach gives ammonium molybdate, decomposed to MoO3 and reduced with hydrogen at ~1000 °C to metal powder.
Research Elements Mo · atomic number 42 Transition metal · period 5, group 6 [Kr] 4d5 5s1 Shells: 2, 8, 18, 13, 1 Valence electrons: 1 in the outer shell (5s1), and 5 in 4d5 Green dots are the outer shell's s and p electrons. Softer green dots are the d electrons of transition metals, and the d and f electrons of lanthanides and actinides: they often take part in bonding, but not always. Grey dots are the core. Ground-state configuration from the NIST Atomic Spectra Database (A. Kramida, Yu. Ralchenko, J. Reader and the NIST ASD Team). Abundance is the mole fraction of the element found as that isotope on Earth; digits in parentheses are the uncertainty in the last digits. Masses and abundances from NIST, Atomic Weights and Isotopic Compositions (J. S. Coursey, D. J. Schwab, J. J. Tsai and R. A. Dragoset, National Institute of Standards and Technology).Molybdenum
Electrons
How it's obtained
Natural isotopes
Isotope Relative atomic mass Abundance 92Mo 91.90680796(84) 0.1453(30) 94Mo 93.90508490(48) 0.0915(9) 95Mo 94.90583877(47) 0.1584(11) 96Mo 95.90467612(47) 0.1667(15) 97Mo 96.90601812(49) 0.0960(14) 98Mo 97.90540482(49) 0.2439(37) 100Mo 99.9074718(11) 0.0982(31)