23 Thorium Uses: Facts You Should Know!

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Thorium, Th, is a member of the f-block and belongs to the actinide series. Th has an atomic number of 90 and an atomic mass of 232 u. Let us have a look at the uses of thorium.

Thorium, a weakly radioactive heavy metal, is generally used in different industries like-

  • Metallurgical Industry
  • Aerospace Industry
  • Electronic Industry
  • Optical Devices
  • Nuclear Sector

Let us focus on the application of different thorium compounds like thorium nitrate, oxide, and chloride, in detail in this article.

Metallurgical Industry

  • Thorium is used to make welding rods and ceramics.
  • Thorium is utilized in the manufacture of refractory materials.

Aerospace Industry

  • Thorium is used to develop heat-resistant paints and metals for the aerospace sector.
  • When alloyed with magnesium, thorium is used to manufacture aircraft engines, imparting increased metal strength and creep resistance, particularly at high temperatures.

Electronic Industry

  • Thorium-coated tungsten wire is used to improve the electron emission of heated cathodes.
  • Thorium is applied in the production of portable gas lights.
  • Thoriated tungsten is used to make electrodes and filaments for incandescent lights.

Optical Devices

  • Thorium is employed in making camera lenses and lenses for scientific instruments like a telescope.
  • In order to enhance the qualities of ophthalmic lenses, thorium is used.

Nuclear Sector

  • Thorium is used in radiometric dating.
  • In nuclear reactors, thorium is used as a source of nuclear energy as it is radioactive and available extensively, capable of providing up to three times the energy equivalent to uranium and fossil fuels combined.

Thorium Nitrate Uses

Th(NO3)4 is a crystalline white solid in an amorphous state formed by the reaction between thorium hydroxide and nitric acid. Let us have a look at the uses of thorium nitrate.

The industries that use thorium nitrate, are discussed below.

  • Industrial Reagent
  • Communication Equipment

Industrial Reagent

  • With 1% cerium nitrate, thorium nitrate is used to make mantles for lanterns.
  • Th(NO3)4 is used as a chemical reagent for the estimation of fluorine.
  • Thorium nitrate is utilized in the volumetric titration of fluoride analysis.

Comminucation Equipment

The cathodes of magnetron tubes and traveling wave tubes, are made of thoriated tungsten (thorium nitrate alloyed with tungsten).

Thorium Dioxide Uses

Thorium, when exposed to air, tarnishes to form thorium dioxide (ThO2). It is soluble in sulfuric acid but insoluble in water. Let us have a look at the uses of thorium dioxide.

Industrial uses of ThO2 are listed below:

  • Optical Appliances
  • Decorating lighting
  • Catalyst
  • Manufacturing Industry

Optical Appliances

Thorium dioxide is used to manufacture glass with a high refractive index and low dispersion, and such thoriated glass is used in premium-quality photographic lenses.

Decorative Lighting

  • Thorium dioxide is employed in making commercial incandescent mantles which are used in gasoline lanterns for camping and outside decorative lighting.
  • Thorium dioxide is used to regulate the tungsten’s grain size in electric lamps.

Catalyst

Thorium oxide is used as a catalyst in industries for the production of nitric acid from ammonia, in the cracking of petroleum, and in the production of sulphuric acid.

Manufacturing Industry

  • Tungsten electrodes used in TIG welding, electron tubes, and aircraft engines employ thorium dioxide as a stabilizer.
  • ThO2 is also used in flame spraying and in high-temperature ceramic manufacturing.
  • Thorium dioxide is used in electrodes for arc welding

Thorium Chloride Uses

Thorium chloride (ThCl4) is a white crystalline solid. It is a hygroscopic salt. Let us have a look at the uses of thorium chloride.

The industrial applications of thorium chloride are discussed below:

  • Electrochemistry
  • Metabolic fluids

Electrochemistry

Thorium chloride can conduct electricity when dissolved in water.

Metabolic fluids

In metabolic systems, the pH levels and fluid equilibrium are regulated by the chloride ion of ThCl4.

Conclusion

Thorium is a soft, malleable, and pliable element. It exists as a solid at room temperature and has a face-centered cubic crystal structure. There are 30 known isotopes of thorium, of which the stable naturally occurring isotope is Th-232.