Is thorium naturally radioactive?
Thorium (chemical symbol Th) is a naturally occurring radioactive metal found at trace levels in soil, rocks, water, plants and animals. Thorium is solid under normal conditions. There are natural and man-made forms of thorium, all of which are radioactive.
Is thorium radioactive if so what type of decay will it undergo?
The electron is ejected from the nucleus and is the particle of radiation called beta. Thorium-234 is a nucleus that undergoes beta decay. Here is the nuclear equation for this beta decay. Beta decays are common with Sr-90, C-14, H-3 and S-35.
What is the decay reaction of thorium-234?
When thorium-234 decays, it releases negatively charged radiation called beta particles. A beta particle is an electron emitted by an unstable nucleus. The symbol for a beta particle is 0e.
How long does thorium take to decay?
The time required for a radioactive substance to lose 50 percent of its radioactivity by decay is known as the half-life. The half-life of thorium- 232 is very long at about 14 billion years.
Why thorium is unstable?
Because of its large atomic size, high valence and electronegativity, thorium cannot form isomorphic series that involve major rock forming minerals and occurs mostly in accessory minerals. Under oxidizing conditions, thorium remains stable in the tetravalent state and is not soluble in aqueous solutions.
When the nuclide uranium 234 decays to thorium-230 what kind of decay does uranium 234 undergo?
alpha emission
Uranium-234 nuclei decay by alpha emission to thorium-230, except for the tiny fraction (parts per billion) of nuclei which undergo spontaneous fission.
How long will it take for 15 grams of the original thorium-234 to decay?
24.1 days
The thorium-234 rapidly decays by beta emission to protactinium-234 (t1/2= 24.1 days). The atomic number increases by one.
What does uranium and thorium help?
Uses of Thorium and Uranium Thorium: The use of as an energy source in nuclear reactors is one of the main uses of Uranium. In addition, it is used in producing metal alloys and was used as the light source in gas mantles. But, these mentioned uses declined due to its radioactivity.
What type of radiation is thorium?
Thorium fluoride and thorium oxyfluoride are compounds containing naturally radioactive thorium. These radiochemicals emit ionizing radiation, primarily in the form of alpha particles. Thorium and its decay products, called thorium daughters, also emit some beta particles and gamma radiation.
What is the thorium series?
Definition of thorium series. : a radioactive series beginning with thorium of mass number 232 and ending with thorium D which is the nonradioactive isotope of lead of mass number 208: thorium, at. no. 90→mesothorium 1, at. no. 88 (syn. radium 228)→mesothorium 2, at. no. 89 (syn. actinium 228)→radiothorium, at. no. 90 (syn.
What is the isotope of thorium?
Thorium is an element that occurs naturally in the earth’s crust. The only naturally occurring isotope of thorium is 232Th and it is unstable and radioactive.