Examples of simple tests are shown below that rely on the production of the molybdenum blue colour either due to reduction:
*tests for Sn(II) and Sb(III)
*tests for organic reducing agents
or by detection of the heteroatom
*silicate
*phosphate
Dittmer's spray reagent for phospholipids is used in thin layer chromatography to detect phospholipids. The spray reagent is prepared as follows:
*Molybdenum(VI) oxide, MoO, is dissolved in sulfuric acid 
*A second solution is made up from molybdenum metal dissolved in some of the first solution.
*The spray is made up of a diluted mixture of the first and second solutions. 
When applied to the TLC plate, compounds containing phosphate ester show up immediately as blue spots.