Tellurium is used in alloys, such as steel and copper, to improve machinability. Tellurium is also used in solar panels, semiconductor material, and for coloring glass.
I've linked my source below.
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 metal element. There are 90 electrons in a single atom.
90 in ground state
Thorium 230 is an alpha emitter with half life 75,380 years. Therefore it is dangerous if ingested. Alpha particles don't penetrate the skin, so it would not be dangerous to handle carefully, but if ingested alpha particles can damage internal organs. Thorium 234 is a beta emitter with half life 24.1 days. So 230 is the more dangerous.
Thorium is not commonly used as a primary source of energy because the technology for thorium-based nuclear reactors is not as developed or widely available as traditional uranium-based reactors. Additionally, there are regulatory and economic challenges that have hindered the widespread adoption of thorium as a primary energy source.
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.
A Thorium Molten Salt Reactor is a type of nuclear reactor that uses thorium as a fuel instead of uranium. It operates at high temperatures and uses a liquid fuel mixture of molten salts. One potential advantage of this type of reactor is reduced nuclear waste production compared to traditional reactor designs.
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.
Its uses include refractory applications, lamp mantles and lighting, and welding electrodes.
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.