Molybdenum (chemical element)

Molybdenum (chemical element)

Molybdenum, chemical symbol Mo, metal element, is a necessary trace element for human body, animals and plants. Molybdenum is a silver white metal, hard and tough. The total amount of molybdenum in human body is about 9mg, the highest in liver and kidney.

Molybdenum is a kind of transition element, which can easily change its oxidation state. It plays a role of electron transfer in redox reaction in vivo. In the form of oxidation, molybdenum is likely to be in the + 6 valence state. Although it is also likely to be first reduced to + 5 valence state during electron transfer. However, other oxidation states of molybdenum have been found in the reduced enzyme. Molybdenum is a component of xanthine oxidase / dehydrogenase, aldehyde oxidase and sulfite oxidase. It is known that molybdenum is an essential trace element for human body, animals and plants.