Molybdenum powder is a silvery-white, very hard transition metal; however, it is softer and more ductile than tungsten. Molybdenum exhibits the highest melting points of all pure elements. Molybdenum is attacked slowly by acids. Molybdenum is a valuable alloying agent, as it provides to the hardenability and toughness of quenched and tempered steels. It also enhances the strength of steel at high temperatures. Molybdenum is utilized in alloys, electrodes, and catalysts.

Molybdenum powder is employed in certain nickel-based alloys, such as the "Hastelloy (R)" which are heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant to chemical solutions. It easily oxidizes at elevated temperatures. This metal has found recent applications as electrodes for electrically heated glass furnaces and foreheads. The metal is also applied in nuclear energy applications. It is also employed for missile and aircraft parts.

Molybdenum powder is a remarkable catalyst in the refining of petroleum. It acts as a filament material in electronic and electrical applications. Molybdenum is a crucial trace element in plant nutrition. Some lands are barren for lack of this element in the soil. Molybdenum sulfide is valuable as a lubricant, especially at high temperatures where oils would decompose.

Molybdenum powder is utilized in circuit inks for circuit boards, in microwaves devices and heat sinks for solid-state devices. Other uses for molybdenum involve catalysts for the petroleum industry, pigments, and electrodes. Molybdate-based pigments are employed for two properties: stable color formation and corrosion inhibition. They are light and heat-stable pigments with colors from bright red-orange to red-yellow. It is employed in plastic and rubber products, and ceramics.

Molybdenum powder: Molybdates are applied to inhibit corrosion in water-based hydraulic systems and in automobile engine anti-freeze. Molybdate solutions act as a safeguard against rusting of steel parts during machining. Corrosion inhibiting pigments primarily zinc molybdate, however also molybdates of calcium and strontium, are employed commercially in paints. These pigments are white and can be employed as a primer or as a tint with any other color.