Element Family
Actinide
Transition Metal
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.
- Hafnium metal is highly reactive, hence not found free in nature.
- Hafnium metal as predicated after Mendeleev finished his periodic table.
Sources
Found in Minerals, Mining
By-product Zirconium Refining
Who Discovered
Jöns Jakob Berzelius
Dirk Coster and George de Hevesy
Discovery
In 1829
In 1922
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.
- It has an ability to absorb neutrons and hence it is used to make control rods in nuclear submarines. And this metal is also used in Plasma welding torches.
-
It alloys with iron, titanium and niobium are very useful.
Industrial Uses
Aerospace Industry, Automobile Industry, Chemical Industry, Electrical Industry, Electronic Industry
Ammunition Industry
Medical Uses
Dentistry, Surgical Instruments Manufacturing
NA
Other Uses
Alloys, Jewellery, Sculptures, Statues
Alloys, In Nuclear Reactors, Nuclear Research, Research Purposes
Present in Human Body
Yes
No
Physical State
Solid
Solid
α Allotropes
Not Available
Not Available
β Allotropes
Not Available
Not Available
γ Allotropes
Not Available
Not Available
Pauling Electronegativity
Allred Rochow Electronegativity
Allen Electronegativity
Not Available
Pauling Electropositivity
Electrochemical Equivalent
Other Chemical Properties
Corrosion, Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Radioactivity
Anti Corrosion, Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Solubility
Electron Configuration
[Rn] 6d2 7s2
[Xe] 4f14 5d2 6s2
Crystal Structure
Face Centered Cubic (FCC)
Hexagonal Close Packed (HCP)
Crystal Lattice
FCC-Crystal-Structure-of-Thorium.jpg#100
BCC-Crystal-Structure-.jpg#100
Valence Electron Potential
Lattice Angles
π/2, π/2, π/2
π/2, π/2, 2 π/3
Lattice C/A Ratio
Not Available
Density At Room Temperature
Density When Liquid (at m.p.)
Not Available
Tensile Strength
Not Available
Viscosity
Not Available
Not Available
Other Mechanical Properties
Ductile
Ductile, Malleable
Magnetic Ordering
Paramagnetic
Paramagnetic
Electrical Property
Superconductor
Conductor
Electron Affinity
Not Available
Critical Temperature
Not Available
Not Available