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To obtain pure thorium metal it is necessary to separate thorium from other elements.
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Why is thorium not used in a nuclear reactor?
: Main article: Thorium fuel cycle Thorium, as well as uranium and plutonium, can be used as fuel in a nuclear reactor. Although not fissile itself, 232Th will absorb slow neutrons to produce (233U), which is fissile. Hence, like 238U, it is fertile. Problems include the high cost of fuel fabrication due partly to the high radioactivity of 233U which is a result of its contamination with traces of the short-lived 232U; the similar problems in recycling thorium due to highly radioactive 228Th; some weapons proliferation risk of 233U; and the technical problems (not yet satisfactorily solved) in reprocessing. Much development work is still required before the thorium fuel cycle can be commercialised, and the effort required seems unlikely while (or where) abundant uranium is available. Nevertheless, the thorium fuel cycle, with its potential for breeding fuel without fast neutron reactors, holds considerable potential long-term benefits. Thorium is significantly more abundant than uranium, and is a key factor in sustainable nuclear energy. One of the earliest efforts to use a thorium fuel cycle took place at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the 1960s. An experimental reactor was built based on Molten Salt Reactor technology to study the feasibility of such an approach, using thorium-fluoride salt kept hot enough to be liquid, thus eliminating the need for fabricating fuel elements. This effort culminated in the Molten-Salt Reactor Experiment that used 232Th as the fertile material and 233U as the fissile fuel. Due to a lack of funding, the MSR program was discontinued in 1976.
What does Uranium and Thorium have in common?
Uranium and thorium are both metals in the actinoid series of the periodic table. They are both silvery colored, both softer than steel, somewhat ductile, and not very good conductors of electricity. They are somewhat similar chemically. Uranium and thorium are both naturally occurring radioactive substances. In fact they are the only radioactive substances occurring in any abundance on earth. Neither is very commonly found, but thorium is much more common on land in minerals and ores. They can both be used for fuel in nuclear reactors, though the reactors designed for them are differently designed so as to take advantage of them most efficiently. Uranium differs from thorium in one major way, which is that it has a fissile isotope. In fact, Uranium-235 is the only fissile isotope occurring in nature. The fact that it is fissile means that it will naturally undergo fission spontaneously. Other naturally occurring isotopes of both uranium and thorium are fissionable, meaning that it can be induced to undergo fission by colliding a neutron into its nucleus.
What is a name that is given to an appliance that doesn't need an earth wire?
It is called Double Insulated because any "hot" wires (= "live" wires in British English) inside the appliance have been made safe by using extra insulation and/or fuses to protect the user from getting a shock if the appliance suffers any damage. That is why it does not need a separate earth or ground wire. Always be sure to switch off the breakers at the main panel before you attempt to do any work on any mains power circuit.
What are the problems associated with the recycling of iron and aluminium?
You have to separate it from any other materials is been joined or mixed with.
Is copper iron based?
No - copper and iron are two separate elements. One does not contain any of the other.
Will thorium fueled reactors be built in the US?
Today any thorium reactor exist in USA.
Are there any isotopes in thorium?
Please see the link.
What would world be without Thorium?
Any important difference !
Some things with protactinium in them?
Only uranium minerals and irradiated thorium; any object with protactinium.
Can thorium kill you?
Thorium is only weakly radioactive, emitting alpha particles which can barely penetrate human skin, thus exposure to it externally could not kill you. Thorium could be dangerous inside the body, where it could trigger cancers in internal organs. A bigger danger is that thorium decay gives rise to radioactive radon gas which could conceivably build up to a dangerous level if stored in a confined space. As a nuclear fuel, thorium is very much safer than uranium and plutonium. Thorium is present in most soils in fairly significant quantities. Overall, it is very very unlikely to cause you any harm whatsoever unless perhaps you work with it routinely without taking any precautions.
When did they stop using thorium dioxide for x-ray?
Simple, after 1950: to avoid any internal irradiation with alpha particles.
How is thorium stored?
Thorium has a number of uses. It is added to magnesium alloys to improve strength. It can be used as a radiation shield. It has is used in ceramics for heat resistance in high temperature crucibles. It has a number of other specialty uses. Thorium has the potential to be used in nuclear reactors, because it is fertile. It can be used in reactors that have promise of producing almost no waste, it does not need enrichment, and the supply of it is far greater than the supply of uranium. It is estimated that if we switched to thorium for our electric supply, the reserve is sufficient to provide for current levels of consumption for thousands of years.
How can you separate the parts of chicken noodle soup?
You can use a strainer to separate the broth from the noodles and any other ingredients. If you want to go further in separating ingredients, you would need to hand pick them apart.
Can Xbox Kinect play on any Xbox 360?
Yes. But if you have an old (not slim) XBox, the Kinect will need a separate power adaptor
Do you have to be represented by separate lawyers if you own property and you divorce in Arkansas?
You always need to be represented by separate lawyers in a divorce or any other legal matter. One lawyer cannot honestly advocate for two different adversarial parties in the same case.You always need to be represented by separate lawyers in a divorce or any other legal matter. One lawyer cannot honestly advocate for two different adversarial parties in the same case.You always need to be represented by separate lawyers in a divorce or any other legal matter. One lawyer cannot honestly advocate for two different adversarial parties in the same case.You always need to be represented by separate lawyers in a divorce or any other legal matter. One lawyer cannot honestly advocate for two different adversarial parties in the same case.
What two continents do the Alps separate?
The Alps does not separate any continents.
A mineral that is radioactive probably contains the element?
Any of a variety of elements might do for this, including thorium and uranium, but even potassium has an important radioactive isotope in it.
