The common Ionic Charge of Molybdenum (Mo) is 3+ and 6+, but it also shows other ionic charges such as 2+, 4+ and 5+.
But the question is how can you find the ionic charge on Molybdenum (Mo)?
Well, molybdenum is a transition element and all the transition and post-transition elements have a variable ionic charge.
The ionic charge of molybdenum (or any other transition or post transition elements) depends on what it is bonded with.
So let’s try to find out the ionic charge of Molybdenum (Mo) using some examples.
You can also refer to the below video from which you will learn to find charge of any ion.
How to find the ionic charge of Molybdenum (Mo)?
As I mentioned earlier, the ionic charge of Molybdenum (Mo) can be found out by looking at what it is bonded with.
So let’s take examples of compounds of Molybdenum (Mo) like MoCl3, MoF6, Mo2S3, etc.
Example 1: MoCl3
In MoCl3, the Molybdenum (Mo) is bonded to Chlorine (Cl).
You know that the ionic charge of Cl is 1-.
So you can easily say that the ionic charge of Mo should be 3+, then only it will get canceled out.
Hence the ionic charge of Molybdenum in MoCl3 is 3+.
Example 2: MoF6
In MoF6, the Molybdenum (Mo) is bonded to Fluorine (F).
And again, you know that the ionic charge of F is 1-.
So here also you can easily say that the ionic charge of Mo should be 6+, then only it will get canceled out.
Hence the ionic charge of Molybdenum in MoF6 is 6+.
Example 3: Mo2S3
Similarly in Mo2S3, the Molybdenum (Mo) is bonded to Sulfur (S).
And you know that the ionic charge of S is 2-.
So from this, you can easily say that the ionic charge of Mo should be 3+, then only it will get canceled out.
Hence the ionic charge of Molybdenum in Mo2S3 is 3+.
In this way, Molybdenum can have variable charges depending on what it is bonded to.
I hope you have understood why molybdenum has variable ionic charges.
Check out some other related topics for your practice.
Related topics:
Charge on HCN
Charge on N2O (Nitrous oxide)
Charge of Germanium (Ge)
Charge on H2S
Charge on HBr
Jay is an educator and has helped more than 100,000 students in their studies by providing simple and easy explanations on different science-related topics. With a desire to make learning accessible for everyone, he founded Knords Learning, an online learning platform that provides students with easily understandable explanations.
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