Element Family
Actinide
Actinide
Space Group Name
P63/mmc
P63/mmc
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.
- X-ray Diffraction- different compounds of Berkelium metals are identified using it.
Commercial uses of Berkelium metal are not yet discovered.
Sources
Found in Minerals, Mining
Bombarding Americium with Alpha Particles.
Who Discovered
Jöns Jakob Berzelius
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Discovery
In 1829
In 1949
Abundance In Earth's Crust
Uses & Benefits
- Thorium metal is used as an allying agent for Magnesium, It imparts greater strength and resistance to temperature.
-
compound of this metal Thorium oxide is used as an industrial catalyst.
- This metal is very rare and has no commercial uses.
Industrial Uses
Aerospace Industry, Automobile Industry, Chemical Industry, Electrical Industry, Electronic Industry
-
Medical Uses
Dentistry, Surgical Instruments Manufacturing
-
Other Uses
Alloys, Jewellery, Sculptures, Statues
-
Present in Human Body
Yes
No
Physical State
Solid
Solid
Pauling Electronegativity
Sanderson Electronegativity
Allred Rochow Electronegativity
Mulliken-Jaffe Electronegativity
Pauling Electropositivity
Electrochemical Equivalent
Other Chemical Properties
Corrosion, Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Radioactivity
Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Radioactivity
Electron Configuration
[Rn] 6d2 7s2
[Rn] 5f9 7s2
Crystal Structure
Face Centered Cubic (FCC)
Double Hexagonal Close Packed (DHCP)
Crystal Lattice
FCC-Crystal-Structure-of-Thorium.jpg#100
DHCP-Crystal-Structure-of-Berkelium.jpg#100
Valence Electron Potential
Lattice Angles
π/2, π/2, π/2
π/2, π/2, 2 π/3
Density At Room Temperature
Density When Liquid (at m.p.)
Other Mechanical Properties
Ductile
-
Magnetic Ordering
Paramagnetic
Paramagnetic
Electrical Property
Superconductor
Conductor