Element Family
Actinide
Actinide
Space Group Name
P63/mmc
Fm_ 3m
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.
Actinium glows in the dark due to its radioactivity.
Sources
Found in Minerals, Mining
Obtained by Treating Radium with Neutrons, Ores of metals
Who Discovered
Jöns Jakob Berzelius
Friedrich Oskar Giesel
Discovery
In 1829
In 1902
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.
- Actinium metal has a great source of alpha rays but it is hardly used outside research purpose.
Industrial Uses
Aerospace Industry, Automobile Industry, Chemical Industry, Electrical Industry, Electronic Industry
-
Medical Uses
Dentistry, Surgical Instruments Manufacturing
-
Other Uses
Alloys, Jewellery, Sculptures, Statues
Alloys, Nuclear Research, Research Purposes
Present in Human Body
Yes
No
Physical State
Solid
Solid
Color
Silver
Silvery White
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, Solubility
Electron Configuration
[Rn] 6d2 7s2
[Rn] 6d1 7s2
Crystal Structure
Face Centered Cubic (FCC)
Face Centered Cubic (FCC)
Crystal Lattice
FCC-Crystal-Structure-of-Thorium.jpg#100
FCC-Crystal-Structure-of-Actinium.jpg#100
Valence Electron Potential
Lattice Angles
π/2, π/2, π/2
π/2, π/2, π/2
Density At Room Temperature
Density When Liquid (at m.p.)
Other Mechanical Properties
Ductile
-
Magnetic Ordering
Paramagnetic
Paramagnetic
Electrical Property
Superconductor
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