Magpie
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Preparation of Ammonium Molybdate from Molybdenum Disulfide
August 13, 2013
by Magpie
A. Introduction
The applicable reactions appear to be:
2MoS2 + 7O2 + high heat ---> 2MoO3 + 4SO2
MoO3 + 2NH4OH ---> (NH4)2MoO4 + H2O
Crystals removed from pieces of molybdenite ore provided the source of MoS2. From a charge of 0.51g of MoS2 crystals 0.25g of (NH4)2MoO4 was
recovered. This is a yield of 44%.
The scale of this procedure is small, being the same as that used by the author during procedure development in 2009 (ref 1).
This procedure follows that of Walton (ref 2).
B. Reagents
~0.51g of MoS2 crystals scrapings from molybdenite ore
3mL of distilled water
1.2mL of 13.3N NH4OH
C. Equipment
1. Bunsen burner (note 1)
2. small crucible
3. clay triangle
4. iron ring w/clamp
5. ring stand
6. steam bath
7. 100 mL beaker
8. glass funnel
9. filter paper
10. evaporating dish
11. mortar & pestle
D. Procedure
a. Conversion to MoO3
1. Grind the MoS2 crystal scrapings to a powder using a mortar & pestle.
2. Place MoS2 powder in the crucible.
3. Install the iron ring on the ring stand; place the clay triangle on the ring.
4. Place the crucible w/MoS2 scrapings on the clay triangle.
5. Heat the crucible as strongly as possible with the Bunsen burner. Per Walton: “heat at a dull red heat for 30 minutes.” The gray MoS2 should
all eventually turn to a dull yellow. The cooled finished product will look almost white.
b. Conversion to (NH4)2MoO4
1. Place the cooled MoO3 powder in a 100mL beaker.
2. Add 3mL of distilled water.
3. Add 1.2mL of 13.3N NH4OH.
4. Mix these ingredients and then heat on a steam bath for ~15 minutes with stirring.
5. When the MoO3 has dissolved filter the solution into an evaporating dish.
6. Allow to air dry. Pure white crystals of ammonium molybdate will form.
E. Results
This author recovered 0.25g of ammonium molybdate for a % yield of 44% based on the weight of the intermediate MoO3 of 0.57g.
F. Discussion
Shown below is a photo of the molybdenite ore. The dark spots are the crystals of relatively pure MoS2. This is the only source of MoS2 tested by
this author. Presumably this procedure will also be useful for making ammonium molbydate from other sources of MoS2 such as reagent grade and
lubricants.
Also shown in the picture, in the evaporating dish is the ammonium molybdate product. The blue cast is due to some contamination, possibly MoO2.
This blue color was also noted in the “Questions” section of Walton’s procedure.
Ammonium molydate can be used in a qualitative test for the presence of phosphate, and this is purpose for which the author prepared it. The presence
of phosphate results in the formation of the brilliantly yellow ammonium phosphomolybdate also shown in the photo in the test tube. (Note 2)
G. Notes
1. The author used a Tirill type Bunsen burner on propane. This was marginal as a source of heat. A Mekker burner on MAP/PRO gas would be better.
2. A UNESCO website says the test is good for detection of phosphate in water down to 2.4 mg/L, or 2.5 x 10^-5M. It also provides the following
reaction:
Na2HPO4(aq) + 12(NH4)2MoO4(aq) --->(NH4)3PMo12O40(s)
+ 2NaNO3(aq) + 21NH4NO3(aq) + 12H2O(l)
H. References
1. Inorganic Preparations, by Harold Walton, 1948, p. 146 (see forum library).
2. Science Madness forum thread: http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=11908#...
[Edited on 14-8-2013 by Magpie]
[Edited on 14-8-2013 by Magpie]
The single most important condition for a successful synthesis is good mixing - Nicodem
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bfesser
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This is cool, <strong>Magpie</strong>, thanks for the write up.
In section <strong>B. Reagents</strong>, did you mean NH<sub>4</sub>OH where you wrote "(NH4)2OH"?
[Edited on 14.8.13 by bfesser]
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Magpie
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Yes, thanks for the correction.
The single most important condition for a successful synthesis is good mixing - Nicodem
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j_sum1
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Thanks for this Magpie.
I am considering making some of this rather than purchasing it. A couple of questions:
My starting material is likely to be Mo wire rather than MoS2 -- since I have some on hand and it is pretty cheap anyway. So, I am looking for the
best method for oxidising it to MoO3 as a first step. Not that I have started researching yet, but is there a straightforward method for doing this?
(Will burning in air get me what I want? Or maybe I need to go for a hydroxide first?)
Not that it matters much, but how certain are you that the product you obtained is (NH4)2MoO4 and not
(NH4)6Mo7O24? I have only used the latter in a phosphate test before. (And I used the moly blue test for
a qualitative analysis.)
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Magpie
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I'm sorry but I can't answer your questions. But I'm sure there are others who can.
The single most important condition for a successful synthesis is good mixing - Nicodem
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blogfast25
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Quote: Originally posted by j_sum1  | Thanks for this Magpie.
I am considering making some of this rather than purchasing it. A couple of questions:
My starting material is likely to be Mo wire rather than MoS2 -- since I have some on hand and it is pretty cheap anyway. So, I am looking for the
best method for oxidising it to MoO3 as a first step. Not that I have started researching yet, but is there a straightforward method for doing this?
(Will burning in air get me what I want? Or maybe I need to go for a hydroxide first?)
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| Quote: | Molybdenum is a transition metal with an electronegativity of 2.16 on the Pauling scale and a standard atomic weight of 95.95 g/mol.[13][14] It does
not visibly react with oxygen or water at room temperature, and the bulk oxidation occurs at temperatures above 600 °C, resulting in molybdenum
trioxide:
2 Mo + 3 O2 → 2 MoO3 |
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molybdenum#Compounds_and_chemi...
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Texium
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| Quote: Originally posted by j_sum1 |
My starting material is likely to be Mo wire rather than MoS2 -- since I have some on hand and it is pretty cheap anyway. So, I am looking for the
best method for oxidising it to MoO3 as a first step. Not that I have started researching yet, but is there a straightforward method for doing this?
(Will burning in air get me what I want? Or maybe I need to go for a hydroxide first?)
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The best way to get from molybdenum or tungsten metal to the oxides is by simply dissolving the metal in
concentrated hydrogen peroxide. If you can get the 30% pool store kind, that is supposed to dissolve it fairly rapidly.
http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=38280
Now I see that you were the first one to reply to that thread... perhaps you forgot about it? 
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j_sum1
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Aah yes. Thanks for the reminder zts. I hadn't entirely forgotten.
Now to get me some 30% peroxide...
Previous attempts to dissolve Mo using 6% were a feeble failure.
I might have a go with some persulfate and see what happens there too.
I also have a plan to improvise a tube furnace and feed some O2 through it.
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PHILOU Zrealone
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The nitrate anions in the given equation products comes from missing HNO3 that is used to acidify the media in the first part of the equation:
Na2HPO4(aq) + 12(NH4)2MoO4(aq) --HNO3-->(NH4)3PMo12O40(s) + 2NaNO3(aq) + 21NH4NO3(aq) + 12H2O(l)
Note that the test is not specific to phosphates, it reacts similarly with arsenic compounds (arsenates).
[Edited on 11-1-2016 by PHILOU Zrealone]
PH Z (PHILOU Zrealone)
"Physic is all what never works; Chemistry is all what stinks and explodes!"-"Life that deadly disease, sexually transmitted."(W.Allen)
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