Thorium Quick Facts

The element Thorium is defined as...

A radioactive metallic element that occurs combined in minerals and is usually associated with rare earths.

The origins of word “Thorium”

Thor, the Norse God of War.

The classification

Thorium classified as an element in the Actinide series as one of the "Rare Earth Elements" which can be located in Group 3 elements of the Periodic Table and in the 6th and 7th periods.  The Rare Earth Elements are of the Lanthanide and Actinide series. Most of the elements in the Actinide series are synthetic or man-made.

Facts on history

Thorium was discovered by Jons Jacob Berzelius in Sweden in 1828

 

Occurence of the element Thorium in the atmosphere

Monazite is the primary source of Thorium

Common uses

Nuclear fuel

The properties:

Name of Element : Thorium

Symbol of Element : Th

Atomic Number of Thorium : 90

Atomic Mass: 232.0381 amu

Melting Point: 1750.0 °C - 2023.15 °K

Boiling Point: 4790.0 °C - 5063.15 °K

Number of Protons/Electrons in Thorium : 90

Number of Neutrons in Thorium : 142

Crystal Structure: Cubic

Density @ 293 K: 11.72 g/cm3

Color of Thorium : silvery