What is thorium on the periodic table?
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What is thorium on the periodic table?
thorium (Th), radioactive chemical element of the actinoid series of the periodic table, atomic number 90; it is a useful nuclear reactor fuel. Thorium was discovered (1828) by Swedish chemist Jöns Jacob Berzelius.
What is thorium known for?
Thorium oxide is used as an industrial catalyst. Thorium can be used as a source of nuclear power. It is about three times as abundant as uranium and about as abundant as lead, and there is probably more energy available from thorium than from both uranium and fossil fuels.
What are 5 uses for thorium?
Thorium is also used to strengthen magnesium, coating tungsten wire in electrical equipment, controlling the grain size of tungsten in electric lamps, high-temperature crucibles, in glasses, in camera and scientific instrument lenses, and is a source of nuclear power, according to Los Alamos.
Where is thorium commonly found?
The main world resources of thorium are associated with monazite placer deposits in India, Brazil, Australia, the USA, Egypt, and Venezuela. The second most important thorium resources could be mined as by-product of REO from carbonatites (China, Greenland, Norway, Finland, and Sweden).
What are some fun facts about thorium?
FUN FACTS. Thorium is named for Thor, the ancient Norse god of thunder. The element was discovered in 1828 by Swedish chemist and mineralogist Jöns Jakob Berzelius when it was isolated from a previously unknown black silicate mineral from the Island of Lövö near Brevig, Norway.
Is thorium a metal or nonmetal?
Thorium (chemical symbol Th) is a naturally occurring radioactive metal found at trace levels in soil, rocks, water, plants and animals. Thorium is solid under normal conditions. There are natural and man-made forms of thorium, all of which are radioactive.
Who discovered thorium?
Jöns Jacob BerzeliusThorium / Discoverer
What is the symbol of thorium?
ThThorium / Symbol
Who found thorium?
Where is thorium used?
As thorium is radioactive, its uses mainly lie in nuclear fuel applications. It is helpful in radiometric dating. Used as an alloying element in magnesium, to coat tungsten wire in electrical equipment. Used in manufacturing of lenses for cameras and scientific instruments.
