Molybdenum is a transition metal (atomic number 42) that plays a critical role in diverse chemical and biochemical systems. In materials science, it is valued for its high melting point, strength at elevated temperatures, and corrosion resistance, making it important in high-performance alloys and catalysts. In coordination and organometallic chemistry, molybdenum exhibits multiple oxidation states (commonly +4, +5, +6) and forms complexes central to redox catalysis. Biologically, it is an essential trace element incorporated into molybdenum cofactors in enzymes such as nitrate reductase and xanthine oxidase, mediating key electron-transfer and oxygen-atom transfer reactions in nitrogen and sulfur metabolism.
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