Sulfite Toxicity Due To Molybdenum Deficiency example essay topic

History of Molybdenum Before Carl Wilhelm Schiele recognized Molybdenum in 1778 as a new element, it was often confused with Graphite or lead ore. That is where the name Molybdenum originates from, the Greek word molubdos, meaning lead. The metal was prepared as an impure form by Helm in 1782. Molybdenum does not occur as an element in nature, but as principally Molybdenite, with Wulfenite and Powerlite as minor commercial ores. Molybdenum is now used today in many different commercial, household and recreational products. Uses of Molybdenum Molybdenum has a Number of uses, many of which are important to technological advancement and use in the everyday life of the modern person, even though many people don't realize it is there.

Molybdenum is used as a valuable alloying agent, Almost all ultra-High strength steels contain molybdenum in amounts that vary from 0.25% to 8%, and it also improves steel strength at high temperatures. Molybdenum electrodes are used in electrically heated glass furnaces as well as filaments in electrical applications. Some other interesting uses of Molybdenum are its uses in nuclear energy applications, Missile and Aircraft parts, Gun Barrels as well as a lubricant in the form of Molybdenum disulfide at extremely high temperatures where normal oils would decompose. Molybdenum is also used as a valuable catalyst in petroleum refining. The World War 2 German Artillery piece called the "Big Bertha" contained Molybdenum as an essential part of its steel.

Physical Properties of Molybdenum Molybdenum is a transition metal. It has a melting point of 2617.0 C; its Boiling Point is 4612.0 C. It's color is silver ish. Molybdenum is not found as a free metal in nature. It is extracted from several different ores, the main one is Molybdenite, and the other is Wulfenite. Molybdenum is also recovered as a by-product of copper and tungsten production. Molybdenum was often confused with graphite and lead ore.

Chemical Properties of Molybdenum Molybdenum has 42 electrons and protons. Molybdenum's Atomic Number is 42 and its atomic mass is 95.94 amu (Atomic Mass Units). Molybdenum contains 54 neutrons and has a Cubic Crystal Structure. Density at 293 K is 10.22 g / cm 3. Occurrence and Availability Here is a brief summary of the isolation of Molybdenum. The normal process is for the sulfide, MoS 2 to be "roasted" to form the oxide MoO 3 this is often used directly in the steel industry.

Pure samples of the metal are available by first dissolving the oxide in ammonium hydroxide to make ammonium Molybdate (NH 4) 2 [Mo 4], and the reduction of the Molybdate with the hydrogen gas to form the metal Molybdenum. Molybdenum occurs in nature as the ore Molybdenite and Wulfenite. ppb = Parts Per Billion Abundance ppb by weight ppb by Atoms Universe 5 0.1 Sun 9 0.1 Meteorite 1200 250 (Carbonaceous) Crustal rocks 1100 230 Sea water 10 0.64 Stream 0.8 0.008 Human 100 7 Molybdenum can be purchased for around US$11/100 grams. Currant Research into Molybdenum Molybdenum doesn't react with air at room temperature but at elevated temperatures (red heat), the trioxide molybdenum (VI) oxide is formed. Molybdenum doesn't react with water at room temperature but does react with fluorine directly at room temperature to form molybdenum fluoride MoF 6. The conditions are much milder then those required for chromium. In carefully controlled conditions, molybdenum fluoride, MoF 5 is formed in the reaction between molybdenum metal and Chlorine.

Molybdenum doesn't react with acids or bases. It is possible for Molybdenum to bond with the following elements. Hydrogen, Chlorine, fluorine, iodine, bromine, oxides selenium, sulfide, telluride, nitride. Effect Molybdenum has on the Environment and Humans Molybdenum has an extremely dramatic effect on the environment. It is an essential trace element and Entire plains are barren from lack of molybdenum in the soil. Coral also needs traces of molybdenum to survive, grow, and reproduce.

A seventy-kilogram person has approximately 0.007 grams of Molybdenum in their body. The following is word-for-word, copied from web Molybdenum (Mo) is a transition metal that forms oxides and is a component of a pteris coenzyme essential for the activity of xanthine oxidase, sulfite oxidase, and aldehyde oxidase. Genetically conditioned sulfite oxidase deficiency was described in 1967 in a child with mental retardation, convulsions, opisthotonos, and lens discoloration. This disorder was due to the child's inability to form the molybdenum coenzyme despite the presence of adequate molybdenum.

Sulfite toxicity due to molybdenum deficiency was noted in a patient on long term TPN who developed tachycardia, tachypnea, headache, nea sea, vomiting and coma. A metabolic study showed high levels of sulfite and xanthine and low levels of sulfate and uric acid in his blood and urine, which led to the diagnosis. Giving ammonium Molybdate 300 g / day IV led to a dramatic recovery. Both genetically conditioned and nutritional deficiencies of molybdenum are rare. Conclusions In conclusion to this report, it has been found that Molybdenum is a very important part of life on earth.

Without Molybdenum, life as we know it would not survive. Molybdenum has many uses and everything molybdenum is used for has no substitute that will do the job even half as well as Molybdenum does it.