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.
Yes, it is legal to own thorium in the form of thorium compounds or products that contain thorium. However, regulations vary by country and region, so it is important to check local laws and regulations before acquiring or possessing thorium.
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.
Thorium oxide is not particularly expensive. Thorium metal is very expensive, but this may be because there is so little demand for it that it has to be specially made when someone wants it.
Thorium has 90 protons. It does not matter which isotope is involved.
The atomic number of thorium is 90. so it will always have 90 protons in all its isotope.
Thorium, with the chemical symbol Th, is the chemical element with the atomic number 90.
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.
The name thorium was the original name from the beginning.
The atomic number of thorium, Th, is 90 and it is an inner transition element in the Actinide series. The Actinide series is the second of the two series shown by themselves. It starts Actinium, Thorium, Protactinium, and Uranium, so Thorium is the second element in the Actinide series.
Yes, we can get more electricity from thorium, if you are asking about the supply. When 232Th is used in a nuclear reactor, it is bred to become 233U. This isotope of uranium has about as much energy available as 235U, so the amount of energy per fission event is about the same for thorium as it is for uranium. Aside from that, however, there are important differences. Thorium does not need to be enriched, so all of it can be used. The amount of thorium we have is a multiple of the amount of uranium. The combination means that, where we only have a few decades supply of uranium, we have enough thorium to last thousands of years.
The price of thorium per pound can vary depending on its purity, availability, and market demand. As of now, thorium is not commonly traded on the open market, so it is difficult to provide a specific price.