MOLYBDENUM. (Jl 



lias been shown that molybdous acid is a com- 

 pound of 1 atom molybdenum and 2 atoms oxy- 

 gen, and molybdic acid of 1 atom molybdenum 

 and 3 atoms oxygen, there is no reasonable 

 ground of doubt that the protoxide is a com- 

 pound of 1 atom molybdenum and 1 atom oxy- 

 gen. Thus the atomic weight and composition 

 of molybdenum and its oxides is 



ATOMIC WEIGHTS. 



Molybdenum . . 6 



MOLYBDE.V. OXYGEN. 



Protoxide of 1 atom + 1 atom 7 



Molybdous acid 1 - + 2 - 8 



Molybdic acid 1 - -f 3 - 9 



5. Sulphuret of molybdenum exists native, 

 and is the mineral substance well known under de 

 the name of molybdena. It has a bluish colour, 

 and the metallic lustre ; is soft and sectile, and 

 composed of thin leaves. It may be formed ar- 

 tificially, by heating together 1 part of molybdic 

 acid and 5 parts of sulphur. Bucholz analyzed 

 this sulphuret with sufficient accuracy, and 

 showed that it was a compound of 



Molybdenum . 3 or 6 

 Sulphur . .2-4 



10 



It is, therefore, a bisulphuret, or a compound of 

 1 atom molybdenum, with 2 atoms sulphur. 



