Thorium hasn't medical uses.
History is written by the victors.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Its uses include refractory applications, lamp mantles and lighting, and welding electrodes.
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 and fluorine Thorium trifluoride - ThF3 Thorium tetrafluoride - ThF4
gas light mantles (as ThO2)catalyst in certain chemical reactions (as ThO2)breeding material in a type of breeder reactor that makes fissile uranium-233; the most simple form is also as ThO2.Other thorium uses:- thorium dioxide can be used as refractory material for crucibles, tubes, rods, etc.- thorium tetrafluoride (ThF4) is used as anti-reflection coating in optics.- alloying metal for some aviation components (magnesium-thorium alloy); 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- additive for special glass (as ThO2)- additive in filaments (as ThO2) of magnetron tubes- reagent in chemistry laboratories (as thorium nitrate)- etc.