Ammonium heptamolybdate


Ammonium heptamolybdate is the inorganic compound whose chemical formula is 6Mo7O24, normally encountered as the tetrahydrate. A dihydrate is also known. It is a colorless solid, often referred to as ammonium paramolybdate or simply as ammonium molybdate, although "ammonium molybdate" can also refer to ammonium orthomolybdate, 2MoO4, and several other compounds. It is one of the more common molybdenum compounds.

Synthesis

Ammonium heptamolybdate is easily prepared by dissolving molybdenum trioxide in an excess of aqueous ammonia and evaporating the solution at room temperature. While the solution evaporates, the excess of ammonia escapes. This method results in the formation of six-sided transparent prisms of the tetrahydrate of ammonium heptamolybdate.
Solutions of ammonium paramolybdate react with acids to form molybdic acid and an ammonium salt. The pH value of a concentrated solution will lie between 5 and 6.

Structure

The compound was first analyzed crystallographically by Lindqvist, but has been reanalyzed. All Mo centers are octahedral. Some oxide ligands are terminal, some doubly bridging, and a few are triply bridging ligands.

Uses

Potassium heptamolybdate, also obtained as the tetrahydrate, is very similar to the ammonium salt.

Safety

Molybdates are typically of low toxicity, so much so that few reports of incidents have ever been reported.