Molybdenum is a transition metal. The pure metal is silvery white in color and very hard but softer and more ductile than tungsten, and has one of the highest melting points 2623°C of all pure elements, only tungsten and tantalum have higher melting points. It also has the lowest heating expansion of any commercially used metal.
 
Common uses for Molybdenum are electrodes, aircraft and missile parts, filaments and nuclear energy. The low thermal expansion of molybdenum, similar to that of silicon, makes it a frequently used material in the electronics industry for semiconductor supports and glass sealing.

Due to its excellent thermal conductivity and low resistivity, molybdenum is also used widely in the furnace industry for radiation screens, elements and sintering trays. Molybdenum has good corrosion resistance particularly to hydrochloric acid. Unlike tantalum, niobium, titanium and zirconium; molybdenum is not subject to hydrogen embrittlement.