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Thorium is a silvery-white, lustrous metal that is soft and malleable when pure. It has a melting point of 1750°C and a boiling point of 4820°C, which makes it one of the most refractory metals. Thorium is highly resistant to corrosion and does not tarnish in air, making it a useful material for high-temperature applications.

Thorium is a naturally occurring, radioactive metal that decays slowly over time, emitting alpha particles as it does so. The half-life of thorium-232, the most stable isotope of thorium, is about 14 billion years, which means it takes this long for half of a sample of thorium-232 to decay. The long half-life of thorium makes it a useful source of energy, as it can generate heat through radioactive decay for long periods of time.

One of the main uses of thorium is as a fuel in nuclear power plants. When thorium is bombarded with neutrons, it becomes thorium-233, which decays into protactinium-233 and then uranium-233. These isotopes can be used as fuel in a nuclear reactor, releasing energy through a process called nuclear fission. Thorium-based nuclear power has the potential to be a safer and more efficient source of energy than traditional nuclear power, as it produces less nuclear waste and is less susceptible to meltdowns.

Thorium has also been used as a catalyst in the production of high-octane gasoline and as a material for light bulb filaments, as it has a high melting point and is resistant to corrosion. It has also been used as an alloying element in the production of high-strength, corrosion-resistant materials for use in aircraft engines and other high-temperature applications.

Despite its potential as a source of energy and its various other uses, thorium has not been widely adopted as a fuel or material due to regulatory and technical challenges. The development of thorium-based nuclear power has been slow, and the use of thorium as a fuel is not yet commercially viable.

Quiz:

1. What is the symbol for thorium on the periodic table?
2. What is the atomic number of thorium?
3. What is the primary use of thorium?
4. What is the half-life of thorium-232?
5. Is thorium a naturally occurring, radioactive metal?

Answers:

1. Th
2. 90
3. A fuel in nuclear power plants
4. About 14 billion years
5. Yes