1 Facts
1.1 Interesting Facts
- Thorium metal is used as an alternate option over Uranium for nuclear fuel.
- Thorium metals appearance (silvery white, soft) is somewhat similar to Lead metal.
- Hafnium metal is highly reactive, hence not found free in nature.
- Hafnium metal as predicated after Mendeleev finished his periodic table.
1.2 Sources
Found in Minerals, Mining
By-product Zirconium Refining
1.3 History
1.3.1 Who Discovered
Jöns Jakob Berzelius
Dirk Coster and George de Hevesy
1.3.2 Discovery
1.4 Abundance
1.4.1 Abundance In Universe
3 * 10-4 %7 * 10-8 %
5E-09
0.11
1.4.2 Abundance In Sun
~0.0004 %~0.0000001 %
1E-08
0.1
1.4.3 Abundance In Meteorites
1.4.4 Abundance In Earth's Crust
1.4.5 Abundance In Oceans
1.4.6 Abundance In Humans