Molybdenum is a grey-silver refractory metal of Group 6 (VIb) of the periodic table. It was first isolated from Molybdenite (molybdenum disulfide) in 1782 by Peter Jacob Hjelm in collaboration with Carl Wilhelm Scheele.
Molybdenum, also known as Moly, has the 5th highest melting point (2,610°C) and the lowest heating expansion of any metal; it therefore finds itself useful in high-strength steel alloys where most of the molybdenum produced ends up. Molybdenum is also used in various forms for its corrosion resistance, used in pigments and dyes, and - specifically molybdenum disulfide - as a solid lubricant.
Molybdenum is an essential trace element in plants, especially in legumes as a catalyst and for bacteria in sequestering nitrogen from the atmosphere. It is a micronutrient for humans.