Element Family
Actinide
Transition Metal
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.
- Rutherfordium does not occur in nature as it is a synthetic element.
- Till date Rutherfordium metal has 15 radioisotopes created synthetically.
Sources
Found in Minerals, Mining
Bombarding Plutonium with Accelerated 113 to 115 MeV Neon Ions, Synthetically Produced
Who Discovered
Jöns Jakob Berzelius
Joint Institute for Nuclear Research
Discovery
In 1829
In 1964
Abundance In Meteorites
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Abundance In Earth's Crust
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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.
- Currently known uses of Rutherfordium metal are limited to research purpose only.
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
Alloys, Research Purposes
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] 5f14 6d2 7s2
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
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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
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Electrical Property
Superconductor
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