Thorium as a metal is obtained by a calciothermic process from thorium dioxide. Other methods are: electrolysis of thorium tetrafluoride and thermal decomposition of thorium tetraiodide (Van Arkel-de Boer process).
Common compounds of thorium: thorium dioxide, thorium trifluoride, thorium tetrafluoride, thorium tetrachloride, thorium triiodide, thorium diiodide, thorium tetraiodide, thorium nitrate, thorium oxalate, thorium carbide, thorium sulfides, thorium nitride, thorium oxinate, etc.
Jakob Berzelius did not discover thorium; it was discovered by the Swedish chemist Jöns Jakob Berzelius in 1828. Berzelius isolated thorium by heating a sample of the mineral thorite with potassium hydroxide and then treating it with hydrofluoric acid.
Some thorium uses: - fertile material (as ThO2) in nuclear power reactors; is a precursor of the fissile isotope 233U. - thorium dioxide can be used as refractory material for crucibles, tubes, rods, etc. - thorium tetrafluoride (ThF4) is used as anti-reflection coating in optics. - gas mantles (as ThO2) - alloying metal for some aviation components (magnesium-thorium alloy, magnesium-zinc-thorium); also for welding alloys wolfram-thorium - additive (as ThO2) in wolfram filaments - to stop crystalline growth of W and to increase time of use of light bulbs - catalyst in organic chemistry (as ThO2) - additive for special glass (as ThO2) - additive in filaments (as ThO2) of magnetron tubes - reagent in chemistry laboratories (as thorium nitrate) - etc. Disadvantages of thorium: 1. Thorium is a possible polluting agent of the natural environment. 2. Thorium is a radioactive chemical element. 3. Thorium release radium and radon. 4. Radioactive wastes are dangerous and need to be isolated.
Thorium and fluorine Thorium trifluoride - ThF3 Thorium tetrafluoride - ThF4
Hazards and Health Considerations: Thorium presents both a toxic and radiological hazard. Toxicologically, it causes heavy metal poisoning similar to lead or the uranium isotopes. Biologically, thorium accumulates in the skeletal system where it has a biological half-life of 200 years, the same as plutonium. An M 17 protective mask and standard anti-contamination clothing will adequately protect against thorium.
Thorium is a natural, radioactive, chemical element; chemically, thorium is homogeneous.
Also thorium.
The chemical symbol of thorium is Th.
232Th has 142 neutrons and 90 protons and electrons.
Of course, thorium is a controlled material and working with thorium is not a joke for home.
Thorium (Th) is a member of the actinoids family.
Thorium itself is odorless in its natural state. However, thorium compounds may have a slight metallic or musty odor. It is always important to handle thorium with proper precautions due to its radioactive properties.