Difference between revisions of "Thorium"
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Thorium is a soft, very ductile, silver-gray, heavy, metallic element of the actinide series of elements. Thorium is used in some high strength alloys and ultraviolet photoelectric cells. | Thorium is a soft, very ductile, silver-gray, heavy, metallic element of the actinide series of elements. Thorium is used in some high strength alloys and ultraviolet photoelectric cells. | ||
| − | Thorium is present in small quantities in all volcanic rocks. | + | Thorium is present in small quantities in all volcanic rocks, and is used as a tracer when looking for geologic concentrations of KREEP-bearing materials. The rim of Mare Imbrium is neatly traced by thorium's gamma ray emissions as detected by [[Lunar Prospector]]. Uranium-Thorium radioactive dating is a key technique for establishing the date of rocks. |
When bombarded with neutrons thorium becomes [[uranium]] 233, a fuel for nuclear reactors. Since nuclear reactors produce neutrons, this cycle can be used as a self-sustaining nuclear reaction producing power from Thorium fuel, although at present no commercial reactors use this fuel. | When bombarded with neutrons thorium becomes [[uranium]] 233, a fuel for nuclear reactors. Since nuclear reactors produce neutrons, this cycle can be used as a self-sustaining nuclear reaction producing power from Thorium fuel, although at present no commercial reactors use this fuel. | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
| + | *[http://lunar.arc.nasa.gov/results/gamres.htm Lunar Prospector: Gamma Ray Spectrometer Results] | ||
*[http://www.uic.com.au/nip67.htm page on Thorium as a nuclear fuel] | *[http://www.uic.com.au/nip67.htm page on Thorium as a nuclear fuel] | ||
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Latest revision as of 02:31, 3 October 2009
| Thorium | |
|---|---|
| Th | |
| In situ availability: | |
| Necessity: | |
| Atomic number: | 90 |
| Atomic mass: | 232.0381 |
| group: | 19 |
| period: | N/A |
| normal phase: | Solid |
| series: | Actinide |
| density: | 11.7 g/cm3 |
| melting point: | 2115K, 1842°C, 3348°F |
| boiling point: | 5061K, 4788°C, 8650°F |
| La ← Ce → Pr | |
| Ac ← Th → Pa | |
| N/A ← N/A → N/A | |
| Atomic radius (pm): | 180 |
| Bohr radius (pm): | |
| Covalent radius (pm): | |
| Van der Waals radius (pm): | |
| ionic radius (pm): | (+4) 94 |
| 1st ion potential (eV): | 6.08 |
| Electron Configuration | |
| 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 6s2 6p6 6d2 7s2 | |
| Electrons Per Shell | |
| 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 10, 2 | |
| Electronegativity: | 1.3 |
| Electron Affinity: | - |
| Oxidation states: | 4 |
| Magnetism: | ? |
| Crystal structure: | Face centered cubic |
Thorium is a Actinide metal.
It has a Face centered cubic crystalline structure.
This element has no stable isotopes.
Thorium is a soft, very ductile, silver-gray, heavy, metallic element of the actinide series of elements. Thorium is used in some high strength alloys and ultraviolet photoelectric cells.
Thorium is present in small quantities in all volcanic rocks, and is used as a tracer when looking for geologic concentrations of KREEP-bearing materials. The rim of Mare Imbrium is neatly traced by thorium's gamma ray emissions as detected by Lunar Prospector. Uranium-Thorium radioactive dating is a key technique for establishing the date of rocks.
When bombarded with neutrons thorium becomes uranium 233, a fuel for nuclear reactors. Since nuclear reactors produce neutrons, this cycle can be used as a self-sustaining nuclear reaction producing power from Thorium fuel, although at present no commercial reactors use this fuel.
External Links
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