ammonium molybdate

Ammonium molybdate is an inorganic salt that serves as a source of molybdenum, an essential trace element required for the activity of several key enzymes, including sulfite oxidase, xanthine oxidase, and aldehyde oxidase. These enzymes are involved in the metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acids and purines. In clinical practice, ammonium molybdate (often as the tetrahydrate) is administered intravenously as part of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) to prevent or treat molybdenum deficiency, which can manifest as tachycardia, tachypnea, and mental status changes. Beyond its nutritional role, ammonium molybdate is a ubiquitous laboratory reagent used in the colorimetric determination of phosphates (the phosphomolybdate method) and as an inhibitor in biochemical assays, such as those characterizing ectophosphatase activity in cancer cells. It is also investigated in materials science for the synthesis of molybdenum carbide composites and photochromic hydrogels.

Other names

ammonium heptamolybdatehexaammonium molybdateammonium molybdate tetrahydrateammonium paramolybdate