tórium

Thorium is a chemical element with the symbol Th and atomic number 90. It is an actinide metal that is naturally occurring and radioactive. Thorium is found in small amounts in most rocks and soils, and is more common than uranium. It is a silvery-white metal that tarnishes in air, forming a black oxide.

Thorium was discovered in 1828 by the Swedish chemist Jöns Jacob Berzelius. He named it after Thor, the Norse god of thunder. Thorium has been used in various applications, including incandescent gas mantles, welding electrodes, and as a filament material in some light bulbs. Its radioactive properties have also led to its use in nuclear reactors and as a potential fuel source for future energy production.

The most stable isotope of thorium is thorium-232, which has a half-life of 14 billion years. Thorium-232 decays through a series of alpha and beta emissions, eventually transforming into stable lead. This decay chain produces several radioactive daughter isotopes, including radium and radon.

Thorium's potential as a nuclear fuel is attributed to its abundance and the fact that it can be bred into fissile uranium-233 in a reactor. This process could allow for more efficient use of nuclear fuel and potentially reduce the amount of long-lived radioactive waste. However, challenges remain in developing and deploying thorium-based nuclear reactors, including the need for specialized fuel processing and the management of its radioactive byproducts.