Molybdenum, number forty-two on the atomic table, is a gray metal that is used for foil, sheeting, wire, mesh, aircrafts, oil pipelines, missiles, and in
steel.  Because of its strength, molybdenum was used greatly during World War II.  It has fifty-eight neutrons in its largest isotope and fifty-six in its
most abundant isotope. Molybdenum is known for forming covalent bonds and its oxidation states are 2,3,4,5, and 6.

Its abundance is .2 log in the Earth?s crust and is found in wulfenite, powellite, and most commonly, molybdenite.  However, molybdenum is mined
directly and as a byproduct of copper mines. Most of these mines are in the United States in Montana, Idaho, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona with
the Phelps Dodge Corporation as the largest provider.  The other largest mining country is Chile producing over 163,000,000 metric tons per year in combination
with the United States.  The areas of mining in both countries are open mountainous regions and the mines are usually open cast pits or underground
block caves.  The price has increased from $2 per pound in the year 2000 to roughly $40 per pound in 2005, thus showing an upward trend.

Although molybdenum has a very low toxicity, some cases have been reported when large quantities have been ingested and no cases of exposure harm have been
reported.  However, animals that ingest molybdenum upset the balance of copper in their livers are can suffer from emaciation, diarrhea, convulsions,
blindness, osteoporosis, and heart failure, but symptoms vary based on the animal.  There are substitutions for molybdenum, should its effects upset the
environment.  These include tungsten, vanadium, chromium, and boron.