Thorium

90

Th

232.03806(
  • Name: Thorium
  • Symbol: Th
  • Atomic number: 90
  • Atomic weight: 232.03806(
  • CAS Registry ID: 7440-29-1
  • Group name: Actinoid
  • Period number: 7
  • Block: f-block
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Description

Thorium is an actinide that is a silvery white solid in its natural solid state. It has slight radioactive characteristics, and it has the longest liquid range of all known elements. Thorium has an atomic weight of 232.03806, a melting point of 3348 °F, and a boiling point of 8650 °F. Some common uses of thorium include: as an alloy with magnesium for aircraft, as a component in tungsten wire, as a component in material used to produce nuclear fuel, and as a radiation shield.

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Isolation

Thorium is a commonly found element and occurs in many rocks and soils. It is usually isolated from certain minerals.

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The isolation processes of thorium are usually carried out on minerals such as thorium phosphate and monazite. Monazite can carry as much as 21% thorium in its structure, and it is the main ore that is used for thorium extraction and isolation. Processing thorium from monazite is a complex process, and so it is hardly ever isolated on a small scale laboratory basis. This process begins with extracting monazite sand and then dissolving it in an inorganic acid, mainly sulfuric acid. Next, the thorium is extracted from the solution using an amine compound. The extracted complex of thorium is then treated to an anion compound such as a chloride or hydroxide; this step dissolves the thorium out in a liquid phase. Precipitation of the thorium is used to further isolate it. Isolated thorium needs to be handled with caution even though the levels of radiation it emits cannot penetrate skin.
General
Name Thorium
Symbol Th
Number 90
Chemical series Actinides
Group n/a
Period 7
Block f
Appearance silvery white
Standard atomic weight 232.03806(2)  g·mol−1
Electron configuration [Rn] 6d2 7s2
Electrons per shell 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 10, 2
Atomic properties
Crystal structure cubic face centered
Oxidation states 4 (weakly basic oxide)
Electronegativity 1.3 (scale Pauling)
Ionization energies 1st:  587  kJ·mol−1
(more) 2nd:  1110  kJ·mol−1
(more) 3rd:  1930  kJ·mol−1
Atomic radius 180  pm
Atomic radius (calc.)
Covalent radius
Van der Waals radius
Physical properties
Phase solid
Density (near r.t.) 11.7  g·cm−3
Liquid density at m.p.
Melting point 2115 K (1842 °C, 3348 °F)
Boiling point 5061 K (4788 °C, 8650 °F)
Critical point
Heat of fusion 13.81  kJ·mol−1
Heat of vaporization 514  kJ·mol−1
Heat capacity (25 °C) 26.230  J·mol−1·K−1
Miscellaneous
Magnetic ordering
Electrical resistivity (0 °C) 147 nΩ·m
Thermal conductivity (300 K) 54.0  W·m−1·K−1
Thermal expansion (25 °C) 11.0  µm·m−1·K−1
Speed of sound (thin rod) (20 °C) 2490 m/s
Young's modulus 79 GPa
Shear modulus 31 GPa
Bulk modulus 54 GPa
Poisson ratio 0.27
Mohs hardness 3.0
Vickers hardness 350 MPa
Brinell hardness 400 MPa
CAS registry number 7440-29-1

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