molibdén

Molibdén, known in English as molybdenum, is a chemical element with the symbol Mo and atomic number 42. It is a transition metal with a silvery‑grey appearance and a very high melting point, making it valuable for high-temperature applications. It is resistant to corrosion due to a protective oxide film that forms on its surface.

Molibdén occurs in several minerals, most notably molybdenite (MoS2). It is mined largely from porphyry copper deposits and is also found in other minerals such as wulfenite and powellite. The ore is processed by roasting sulfide minerals to produce molybdenum oxide, which is then reduced to metallic molybdenum. The metal is sometimes produced as ferro‑molybdenum for alloying.

Industrial uses of molibdén are extensive. Small additions to steel and cast iron improve strength, toughness, and high‑temperature performance, making it essential in stainless steels and various superalloys. Molybdenum‑based catalysts, particularly molybdenum disulfide promoted with cobalt or nickel, are important in petroleum refining for hydrodesulfurization and related processes. Molybdenum is also used in other specialty alloys, electronics, and lubricants.

Biologically, molibdén is a trace element essential for many organisms. In humans, it is a cofactor for several molybdoenzymes, including xanthine oxidase, aldehyde oxidase, and sulfite oxidase. Requirements are small, and deficiencies are rare; excessive exposure to some Mo compounds can be toxic, so handling and environmental releases are regulated.

The name derives from the mineral molybdenite, from Greek molybdos meaning “lead-like.” Discovered in the late 18th century, molibdén was first isolated as a metal in the early 1780s.