Element Family
Actinide
Actinide
Space Group Name
P63/mmc
P121/m1
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.
- Plutonium metal if obtain from ores of uranium metal.
- Plutonium metal is very sensitive to the change in atmospheric conditions like temperature and pressure.
Sources
Found in Minerals, Mining
Mining, Ores of metals
Who Discovered
Jöns Jakob Berzelius
Glenn T. Seaborg, Arthur Wahl, Joseph W. Kennedy, Edwin McMillan
Discovery
In 1829
In Between 1940 1941
Abundance In Meteorites
-
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.
- Plutonium was used in atomic bombs and still it is being used in various weapons and Ammunition industry.
-
It is also used in nuclear power plant as source of energy for space missions.
Industrial Uses
Aerospace Industry, Automobile Industry, Chemical Industry, Electrical Industry, Electronic Industry
Aerospace Industry, Ammunition Industry
Medical Uses
Dentistry, Surgical Instruments Manufacturing
-
Other Uses
Alloys, Jewellery, Sculptures, Statues
Alloys
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
Corrosion, Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Radioactivity
Electron Configuration
[Rn] 6d2 7s2
[Rn] 5f6 7s2
Crystal Structure
Face Centered Cubic (FCC)
Monoclinic (MON)
Crystal Lattice
FCC-Crystal-Structure-of-Thorium.jpg#100
MON-Crystal-Structure-of-Plutonium.jpg#100
Valence Electron Potential
Lattice Angles
π/2, π/2, π/2
-
Density At Room Temperature
Density When Liquid (at m.p.)
Other Mechanical Properties
Ductile
Ductile, Malleable
Magnetic Ordering
Paramagnetic
Paramagnetic
Electrical Property
Superconductor
Poor Conductor