Valency of Molybdenum (Mo)
The valency of Molybdenum is 2 — it has 1 valence electron, and it loses them to complete its outer shell.
Looking for Molybdenum's valency without wading through a whole chapter? Here is the direct answer first, then the tables and derivations examiners want to see. Every number on this page comes from the same engine that powers the interactive table. Need the whole picture instead — history, characteristics, uses, exam questions? The full Molybdenum page is one click away.
Counting the valence electrons
From the configuration [Kr] 4d⁵ 5s¹, Molybdenum's outermost shell carries 1 electron. For a d-block element the nearby inner "d" subshell can also lend electrons, which is where variable valency comes from.
Position check: Molybdenum belongs to group 6 of the periodic table, period 5.
Valency vs valence electrons
Valence electrons are what you count (1 for Molybdenum); valency is what the atom will do to complete its outer shell (2 here). Keep the two words straight and half the periodic-table chapter writes itself.
Students also ask
How do I find the valency of Molybdenum from its group?
Molybdenum sits in group 6; for this transition group the safe exam answer is its common valency, 2.
Why does Molybdenum show a fixed valency?
Molybdenum has 1 valence electron and reaches a complete outer shell in one consistent way, so its valency stays fixed at 2.