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, vacuum tubes - reagent in chemistry laboratories (as thorium nitrate)
- etc.
Thorium hasn't medical uses.
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.
The only common thorium oxide formula is ThO2.
The common minerals of thorium are: monazite, thorianite, thorite.
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.
History is written by the victors.
Thorium carbide is a systematic unique name in chemistry.
Thorium-229 is used as raw material to produce Ac-225 and Bi-213, isotopes with medicinal uses.
O: Thorium oxide, ThO2 - many important uses, see the link F: Thorium tetrafluoride, ThF4 - used as antireflection layer in optics C: Thorium carbide, ThC - used as nuclear fuel
+4 is the most common and the most stable oxidation number
Sulfur is of course more common.
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.