Appearance white solid | ||
Ammonium orthomolybdate is the inorganic compound with the chemical formula (NH4)2MoO4. It is a white solid that is prepared by treating molybdenum trioxide with aqueous ammonia. Upon heating these solutions, ammonia is lost, to give ammonium heptamolybdate ((NH4)6Mo7O24.4H2O). Ammonium orthomolybdate is used as a corrosion inhibitor and is an intermediate in some schemes to win Mo from its ores.
Chemical reactions
Heating Ammonium orthomolybdate solid or treatment with acid gives molybdenum trioxide. Such reactions proceed via ammonium dimolybdate. This equilibrium is exploited in the purification of molybdenum from its ores. Aqueous solutions of ammonium orthomolybdate react with hydrogen sulfide to give ammonium tetrathiomolybdate:
(NH4)2MoO4 + 4 H2S → (NH4)2MoS4 + 4 H2OReferences
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