thorium

Element ninety, periodic

Thorium is a radioactive metallic element, silvery-white when pure.

It occurs naturally in minerals and was once used in gas mantles for its bright incandescence.

Thorium has potential as nuclear fuel—more abundant than uranium and producing less long-lived waste.

The element is named for Thor, the Norse god of thunder.

element

actinide

Heavy radioactive metal series

periodicOccurring at intervals
uraniumElement ninety-two
protactiniumActinide series element

neptunium · plutonium · atomic · chemistry · isotope · radioactive · electron · neutron · half-life · decay

nuclear

reactor

Controlled fission apparatus

fissionNuclear breakup releasing energy
breederOne who raises stock
transmutationComplete change of form

criticality · fertile · blanket · subcritical

radiant

incandescent

Glowing from heat

lanternEnclosed portable light
glowSteady, soft light
luminousEmitting or reflecting light

ceramic · refractory · Coleman

metallic

silvery

Pale metallic sheen

ductileAble to deform permanently
malleableCapable of being shaped
filamentVery thin thread

electropositive · powder · ingot · corrosion-resistant · dense · soft

Categories

nuclear technologynuclear reactor, reactor, reactor core, reactor cores, fission reactor
nuclear fueluranium, uranium enrichment, enriched uranium, fuel rods, plutonium
energyelectricity, power, oil, fuel, gas
elementsoxygen, hydrogen, carbon, helium, nitrogen
energy sourcesoil, gas, coal, solar, wind
fuelsgasoline, diesel, coal, gas, petrol

Opposites

nuclear fuel cycle role

thoriumuranium-235

Fissile nuclear isotope

plutonium-239 · weapons-grade uranium · uranium · plutonium · enriched uranium

radioactivity

thoriumlead

Dense metal, symbol Pb

elemental abundance

thoriumsilicon

Metalloid in electronics

oxygen · iron · aluminum

Family

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G