thorium

E909377

Thorium is a naturally occurring radioactive metal and fertile nuclear material considered a potential alternative fuel for advanced nuclear reactors.

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Observed surface forms (3)

Surface form Occurrences
thorium dioxide 0
thorium-232 0
Thor 0

Statements (60)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Norse god
actinide metal
chemical element
fertile nuclear material
radioactive metal
radioisotope
refractory ceramic
advantage high natural abundance
lower long-lived transuranic waste production potential
proliferation resistance relative to uranium-plutonium cycle
appearance silvery-white metal
atomicNumber 90
averageCrustalAbundance about 10 ppm
belongsToGroup actinide series NERFINISHED
block f-block
boilingPoint about 4788 °C
chemicalFormula ThO2
chemicalSymbol Th
commonOxidationState +4
consideredFor advanced nuclear reactors
heavy water reactors
high-temperature gas-cooled reactors
molten salt reactors
nuclear fuel cycle
crystalStructure face-centered cubic
decayMode alpha decay
decaySeries thorium series
densityAtRoomTemperature about 11.7 g/cm³
discoveredBy Jöns Jakob Berzelius NERFINISHED
discoveryYear 1828
electronegativityPauling 1.3
fertileTo uranium-233
formsOxide thorium dioxide
foundIn Earth’s crust
halfLife about 14.05 billion years
hazard chemical toxicity
radiotoxicity
massNumber 232
meltingPoint 1750 °C
about 3390 °C
moreAbundantThan uranium
mostAbundantIsotope thorium-232
namedAfter Thor NERFINISHED
naturalIsotope thorium-232
neutronCapture fertile
occursNaturallyIn monazite
thorite
uraninite
oxidationState +4
period 7
primaryOxidationStateInCompounds +4 GENERATED
radioactive true
regulatoryStatus controlled radioactive material in most countries
standardAtomicWeight 232.0377
usedIn aerospace alloys
gas mantles
high-temperature ceramics
magnesium alloys
scientific instrumentation
welding electrodes

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.