molybdenum

molybdenum /mo·lyb·den·um/ (Mo) (mah-lib´di-num) a chemical element, at. no. 42.

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mo·lyb·de·num (m-lbd-nm)

n. Symbol Mo

A hard metallic element that is an essential trace element in plant and animal nutrition. Atomic number 42.

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molybdenum (Mo)

(mlib´dnm),
n a grayish metallic element with an atomic number of 42 and an atomic weight of 95.94. Molybdenum is poisonous if ingested in large quantities.

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molybdenum

a hard, silvery-white, metallic element, atomic number 42, atomic weight 95.94, symbol Mo. See Table 6. It is an essential trace element, being a component of the enzymes xanthine oxidase, aldehyde oxidase and nitrate reductase.

Molybdenum poisoning causes a secondary hypocuprosis, and clinical signs including chronic diarrhea, illthrift and depigmentation of hair. It occurs most commonly on pastures growing on soils naturally rich in the element, but can be caused by excessive pasture supplementation in an attempt to stimulate the growth of Rhizobium spp., the nitrogen-fixing bacteria of legume roots.