Thorium

Word THORIUM
Character 7
Hyphenation tho ri um
Pronunciations /ˈθɔːɹiəm/

Definitions and meanings of "Thorium"

What do we mean by thorium?

A radioactive silvery-white metallic element that is recovered commercially from monazite. Its longest-lived isotope, the only one that occurs naturally, is Th-232 with a half-life of 14.1 billion years and is used as a nuclear fuel. Thorium is used in magnesium alloys, and its oxide is widely used in gas mantles of Welsbach burners. Atomic number 90; atomic weight 232.038; melting point 1,750°C; boiling point 4,788°C; specific gravity 11.72; valence 4. cross-reference: Periodic Table. noun

In 1900 Brauner announced his belief that, thorium, as generally known, is separable into two different elements. A little later Baskerville, working by a different method, came to the same conclusion, and in 1903 claimed to have effected its separation into three components, for two of which he proposed the new names carolinium and berzelium, retaining the name thorium for the third component. Later he found for this new or purified thorium an atomic weight of 220.1–220.6. In 1905 R. J. Meyer and A. Gumperz published the results of a careful revision of the previous work on this subject, which they found did not afford any evidence in support of the earlier claims of the separability of thorium. Thorium is a radioactive element and is the parent of a series of radioactive products of which eight separate members have already been identified. These are known as mesothorium 1, mesothorium 2, radiothorium, thorium X, thorium emanation, thorium A, thorium B, and thorium C, and are ordinarily present in thorium compounds. Thorium and its products appear to constitute a separate radioactive group or family, distinct from the uranium group, of which actinium, ionium, radium, and polonium are members, although generally found associated with it in minerals. Thorium itself emits only a-rays, but, owing to the presence of thorium disintegration-products, β- and γ-rays are also given out by thorium compounds. noun

Chemical symbol, Th; atomic weight, 231.9. The metallic base of the earth thoria, discovered by Berzelius, in 1828, in a mineral from Norway, to which the name of thorite is now given, and which consists essentially of the silicate of thorium. noun

A metallic element found in certain rare minerals, as thorite, pyrochlore, monazite, etc., and isolated as an infusible gray metallic powder which burns in the air and forms thoria; -- formerly called also thorinum. Symbol Th. Atomic weight 232.0. noun

A chemical element (symbol Th) with atomic number 90. noun

A soft silvery-white tetravalent radioactive metallic element; isotope 232 is used as a power source in nuclear reactors; occurs in thorite and in monazite sands noun

A chemical element (symbol Th) with atomic number 90: a weakly radioactive, malleable, moderately hard silvery metal that tarnishes black when exposed to air.

Synonyms and Antonyms for Thorium

  • Antonyms for thorium
  • Thorium antonyms not found!

The word "thorium" in example sentences

These are mostly mined for the rare earths; the thorium is a low-value waste product. ❋ Unknown (2009)

I've read the Los Alamos reports, but I'd like to know if, since then anyone has said the thorium is more concentrated than being a constituent of KREEP overturned at basin rim structures. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Nuclear fuel, ie uranium and potentially thorium, is incredibly abundant and currently inexpensive. ❋ Unknown (2004)

Let it suffice to call to mind how it proved possible to produce from certain thorium minerals lead with precisely the same chemical properties as ordinary lead, but with considerably higher atomic weight - that is to say, an isotope to lead. ❋ Unknown (1966)

If the metal thorium is exposed in a reactor to neutron bombardment, it may be transformed into a fissionable isotope of uranium having a mass 233. ❋ Unknown (1955)

The Atomic Energy Commission is concerned mainly with fundamental research work at the universities and in the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Bombay and with problems associated with the discovery of uranium and the processing of thorium from the huge monazite sand deposits of southern India. ❋ Unknown (1953)

Nuclear power from fusion might one day be an especially promising field, as may be the use of the radioactive chemical element thorium, which is more abundant than uranium and awaits harnessing. ❋ Matt Ridley (2011)

Recent discoveries at the lab include a cheaper method of producing the element thorium, which is viewed as a potential sustainable energy source; so-called NanoBeacons that are silver atoms that glow different colors when they attach to certain acids and can help in diagnosing disease; and a special drilling fluid to help prevent massive oil spills, such as the one that happened last year in The Gulf. ❋ Unknown (2011)

This isotope also does not occur in nature, but can be bred from the element, thorium, which is very common. ❋ Victor Stenger (2012)

According to geologists, it is the only known commercial deposit of rare earths in the world that has virtually no contamination from thorium, which is radioactive. ❋ By KEITH BRADSHER (2011)

In the 1990's, Seth Grae set out to sell a reactor fueled with thorium, which is more plentiful than uranium yet unattractive to countries that want reactors that can make bombs. ❋ Unknown (2010)

About the only new technology that had anyone excited was nuclear fission of thorium, which is cleaner and more abundant than uranium-Rubbia is a big fan. ❋ Unknown (2010)

Cross Reference for Thorium

What does thorium mean?

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