Molybdenite ore is processed by flotation to give relatively pure MoSĢ also arises by thermal treatment of virtually all molybdenum compounds with hydrogen sulfide or elemental sulfur and can be produced by metathesis reactions from molybdenum pentachloride. MoS 2 is naturally found as either molybdenite, a crystalline mineral, or jordisite, a rare low temperature form of molybdenite. Bulk MoSĢ is a diamagnetic, indirect bandgap semiconductor similar to silicon, with a bandgap of 1.23 eV. It is widely used as a dry lubricant because of its low friction and robustness.
In appearance and feel, molybdenum disulfide is similar to graphite. It is unaffected by dilute acids and oxygen. It is a silvery black solid that occurs as the mineral molybdenite, the principal ore for molybdenum.
The compound is classified as a transition metal dichalcogenide. Molybdenum disulfide (or moly) is an inorganic compound composed of molybdenum and sulfur.
