Element Family
Actinide
Lanthanide
Space Group Name
P63/mmc
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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.
- Promethium metal found in Pitchblende.
- Promethium metal is highly radioactive metal.
Sources
Found in Minerals, Mining
Found in Minerals, Mining
Who Discovered
Jöns Jakob Berzelius
Chien Shiung Wu, Emilio Segrè, Hans Bethe
Discovery
In 1829
In 1942
Abundance In Meteorites
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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.
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compound of this metal Thorium oxide is used as an industrial catalyst.
- It is used for research purpose. Very small amount of this metal is used in atomic batteries.
- Its radioactive decay is used for a phosphor to give off light. The light emitted is converted into electricity.
Industrial Uses
Aerospace Industry, Automobile Industry, Chemical Industry, Electrical Industry, Electronic Industry
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Medical Uses
Dentistry, Surgical Instruments Manufacturing
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Other Uses
Alloys, Jewellery, Sculptures, Statues
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Toxicity
Non Toxic
Non Toxic
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, Solubility
Electron Configuration
[Rn] 6d2 7s2
[Xe] 4f5 6s2
Crystal Structure
Face Centered Cubic (FCC)
Double Hexagonal Close Packed (DHCP)
Crystal Lattice
FCC-Crystal-Structure-of-Thorium.jpg#100
DHCP-Crystal-Structure-of-Promethium.jpg#100
Valence Electron Potential
Lattice Angles
π/2, π/2, π/2
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Density At Room Temperature
Density When Liquid (at m.p.)
Other Mechanical Properties
Ductile
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Magnetic Ordering
Paramagnetic
Paramagnetic
Electrical Property
Superconductor
Conductor