Name: molybdenum
Symbol: Mo
Atomic number: 42
Atomic weight: 95.94 (1) g
Group in periodic table: 6
Group name:
Period in periodic table: 5
Block in periodic table: d-block
CAS registry ID: 7439-98-7
Molybdenum is a silvery-white, hard, transition metal. Scheele discovered it in 1778. It was often confused with graphite and lead ore. Molybdenum is used in alloys, electrodes and catalysts. The World War 2 German artillery piece called "Big Bertha" contains molybdenum as an essential component of its steel.