Thorium

Properties
Atomic symbol |  Th
Atomic number |  90
Classification |  Metallic
Atomic mass |  232.03806 amu
Other Information
Date of discovery |  1829
Name of discoverer |  WJöns Berzelius
Name origin |  Named after Thor, the Norse god of war.
Uses |  Used in the manufacture of strong alloys and ultraviolet photoelectric cells. Can be bombarded with neutrons to make uranium-233, a nuclear fuel.
Obtained from |  Found in various minerals like monazite and thorite and dispersed on pegmatite rocks.

Thorium is a radioactive, naturally occurring chemical element. The symbol for Thorium is Th and it has an atomic number of 90. It was discovered by Morten Thrane Esmark and identified by Jons Jakob Berzelius in 1828. It is named after Thor, the Norse god of war. Thorium is a viable alternative to Uranium as a fuel for nuclear reactors. The amount of long life radioactive material produced in the thorium reaction is significantly smaller than that of the uranium reaction. Another advantage over Uranium based reactors is the lack of production of weapons grade radioactive material. This means that thorium reactors can be placed in less stable countries without the fear of nuclear proliferation.

Periodic Table of the Elements

1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 18

1.008

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

4.003

6.939

9.0122

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

10.811

12.011

14.007

15.999

18.998

10.183

22.99

24.312

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

26.982

28.086

30.974

32.064

35.453

39.948

39.102

40.08

44.956

47.9

50.942

51.996

54.938

55.847

58.933

58.71

63.546

65.37

69.72

72.59

74.922

78.96

79.904

83.8

85.47

87.62

88.905

91.22

92.906

95.94

[97]

101.07

102.91

106.4

107.87

112.4

114.82

118.69

121.75

127.6

126.9

131.3

132.91

137.34

57*

138.91

178.49

180.95

183.85

186.2

190.2

192.2

195.09

196.97

200.59

204.37

207.19

208.98

210

210

222

215

226.03

89**

227.03

104

[261]

105

[262]

106

[266]

107

[264]

108

[265]

109

[268]

110

[271]

111

[272]

112

[277]

113

[284]

114

[289]

115

[288]

116

[292]

117

[293]

118

[294]

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
*Lanthanides  |

140.12

140.91

144.24

145

150.35

151.96

157.25

158.92

162.5

164.93

167.26

168.93

173.04

174.97

|  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
**Actinides  |

232.04

231

238.03

237.05

239.05

241.06

244.06

249.08

252.08

252.08

100

257.1

101

258.1

102

259.1

103

262.11

|  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |