- the metal itself was first isolated (1841) by French chemist

Eugène-Melchior Péligot by the reduction of uranium

tetrachloride (UCl4) with potassium
- the French physicist Henri Becquerel discovered in uranium the
phenomenon of radioactivity
- Uranium is mainly used as fuel in nuclear power reactors for
electricity generation. Beyond providing about 14% of the
world's electricity.

o USES:
- Medicine: radio-isotopes are used for diagnosis and research.
 RADIO-DIAGNOSIS can be used to detect diseases
 RADIO-THERAPY (e.g. chemotherapy )
 RADIO-ACTIVE DRUGS that target specific organs
- Food-processing industry: radio-isotopes used to sterilize
fresh products because irradiation can kill parasites, pests and
bacteria
- Industrial sector: radio-isotopes are used for industrial X-
ray requirements.
- Space industry: when space probes are required to operate
in places far away from the sun, the only available solution
for the production of heat and electricity is the use of radio-
isotopes;
- History and culture: carbon-14 in samples of archaeological
remains is used to estimate their age.

- When present in
compounds, molybdenum
exists mostly in the
oxidation state 4+ and 6+
- Molybdenum is one of the
five major refractory
metals together with
Niobium, Tantalum,
Rhenium, and Tungsten
USES:
- Molybdenum is used in small
quantities to harden steel
and is used in many alloys
- Molybdenum’s strength and
resistance to expanding or
softening at high temperatures
is particularly sought after in
critical areas where high
temperatures are common,
such as in nuclear power
plants and aircraft engines.
- Molybdenum is used as glass
furnace electrodes due to its
high melting point.
- It is also used in the
petroleum industry, to
catalyze the removal of
organic sulfur compounds in
coal liquification and gas
liquification processes.
BIOLOGICAL USES OF
MOLYBDENUM
- Molybdenum is an
essential trace element
for animals and plants.
As with selenium, too
much of it is toxic, too
little of it is fatal
- Used as a co-factor
enzymes especially
hematopoiesis
- In nitrogen fixing bacteria,
molybdenum is a vital
component of the nitrogenase
enzyme which allows
conversion of nitrogen gas in
air into nitrates vital for plant
growth.
- Molybdenum is also present in
20 or so enzymes needed in
animals’ metabolisms.
IMPORTANT COMPOUND OF
MOLYBDENUM
 MOLYBDENUM OXIDE
- a.k.a “Oxomolybdenum”
- combined with FeSO4 (ferrous
sulfate) to produce hematinic
action.
o FORMULA: MoO
o USES:
- Antibacterial
- Hematinic
URANIUM (U – 92) (238.02891)
- radioactive chemical
element, an important
nuclear fuel
- Uranium is a dense, hard
metallic element that is
silvery white in colour
- It is ductile, malleable, and
capable of taking a high
polish. In air the metal
tarnishes and when finely
divided breaks into flames
- It is a relatively poor
conductor of electricity.
Though discovered (1789)
by German chemist Martin
Heinrich Klaproth, who
named it after the ten
recently discovered planet
Uranus
TOXICITY OF CHROMIUM
- Chromium metal and
chromium(III) compounds
are not usually considered
health hazards
- But chromium (VI)
compounds can be toxic if
orally ingested.
- The lethal dose of
poisonous chromium (VI)
compounds is about one
half teaspoon of material.
- Most chromium (VI)
compounds are irritating to
eyes, skin and mucous
membranes.
- Chronic exposure to
chromium (VI)
compounds can cause
permanent eye injury,
unless properly treated
- Chromium (VI) is an
established human MOLYBDENUM (Mo – 42) (95.95)
carcinogen.
IMPORTANT COMPOUNDS OF
CHROMIUM
 POTASSIUM
DICHROMATE
- is a powerful oxidizing agent
and is the preferred compound
for cleaning laboratory
glassware of any possible
organics
o FORMULA: K2CrO7
 CHROME GREEN
- is the green oxide of chromium,
Cr2O3, used in enamel
painting, and glass staining
 CHROME YELLOW
- is a brilliant yellow pigment,
PbrO4, used by painters
 CHROMIC ACID
- has the hypothetical structure
(H2CrO4)Neither chromic nor
dichromic acid is found in
nature, but their anions are
found in a variety of
compounds
 CHROMIUM TRIOXIDE
- the acid anhydride of chromic
acid, is sold industrially as
“chromic acid”
o FORMULA: CrO3
 CHROMIUM DIOXIDE
- is used to manufacture
magnetic tape, where its
higher coercivity than iron
oxide tapes gives better
performance
o FORMULA: CrO2
- Molybdenite, also known as
molybdena, is a soft black
mineral that was once used to
make pencils. The mineral was
often confused for graphite and
it was thought to contain lead.
It is now known to be
molybdenum disulfide
(MoS2)
- It also occurs in wulfenite
(lead molybdate) and
powellite (calcium
molybdate). Commercially,
the metal is obtained by mining
molybdenite directly and it is
also recovered as a by-product
of copper mining.
- Molybdenum is a silvery-
white, high-melting metal.
- It does not react with oxygen
or water at room temperature
and it also resists corrosion at
 GROUP 6B/6 “CHROMIUM
SUBGROUP”
CHROMIUM (Cr – 24) (51.996)
- In 1761, Johann Gottlob
Lehmann found an
orange-red mineral in
the Ural Mountains
which he named Siberian
red lead. Though mis-
identified as a lead
compound with selenium
and iron components, the
material was in fact a lead
chromate (PbCrO4)
- Chromium was named
based on the Greek word
“chroma” meaning
color, because of the
many colorful compounds
made from it
- During the 1800s
chromium was primarily
used as a component of
paints but now the
primary use (85%) is for
metal alloys
- Chromium is a steel-gray,
lustrous, hard metal that
takes a high polish, is
fusible with difficulty, and
is resistant to corrosion
and tarnishing.
- The most common BIOLOGICAL ROLE OF
oxidation states of CHROMIUM
chromium are +2, +3, and
+6, with +3 being the
most stable. +4 and +5
are relatively rare
- Chromium compounds
of oxidation state 6 are
powerful oxidants
o USES:
- In metallurgy, to impart
corrosion resistance and a
shiny finish:
 as an alloy constituent,
e.g. in stainless steel,
 As a catalyst.
 As a metal polish
Cromium (III) Oxide is
known as Green rouge
- Chromite is used to make
molds for the firing of bricks.
- Chromium salts color glass
an emerald green.
- Chromium salts are used in
the tanning of leather.
- Chromium is what makes a
ruby red, and therefore is
used in producing synthetic
rubies.
- The chromates and oxides are
used in dyes and paints.
- as a chemical reagent.
- used in cleaning laboratory
glassware and as a titrating
agent.
- used as a mordant (i.e. a
fixing agent) for dyes in
fabric.
- trivalent chromium is an
essential trace metal and is
required for the proper
metabolism of sugar in
humans.
“Glucose Tolerance Factor”
- Chromium deficiencies can
affect the potency of insulin in
regulating sugar balance
- the functional basis for the
chromium requirement in
the diet remains unexplained.