Molybdic acid, reagent, 85.0% MoO3 basis

Molybdic acid or molybdenum (VI) oxide hydrate is used to manufacture molybdenum metal, which serves as an additive to steel and corrosion-resistant alloys. It is also a component of the co-catalyst used in the industrial production of acrylonitrile by the oxidation of propene and ammonia. Because of its layered structure and the ease of the Mo(VI)/Mo(V) coupling, MoO3 is of interest in electrochemical devices and displays. Molybdenum trioxide has also been suggested as a potential anti-microbial agent, e.g., in polymers.

Many molybdenum oxides are used as heterogeneous catalysts, e.g. for oxidations. Molybdic acid and its salts are used to make the Froehde reagent for the presumptive identification of alkaloids.