Thorium (Th) Fun Facts
"The Thunder God, a potential hero for a new age of safer nuclear energy."
The true essence of Thorium (Th) on the molecular frontier.
Thorium is a weakly radioactive, silvery metal.
Thorium is found in the mantle in an old gas-powered camping lantern.
Thorium is a potential fuel for a new generation of safer nuclear reactors.
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Did You Know?
It is named after Thor, the powerful hammer-wielding god of thunder in Norse mythology.
Thorium is being extensively researched as a potentially safer and more abundant alternative to uranium as a fuel for nuclear power plants.
Old gas camping lanterns used a 'mantle' containing thorium dioxide, which would glow with a bright white light when heated by a flame.
High-quality camera lenses made in the mid-20th century often contained thorium oxide to increase their refractive index, but these lenses are slightly radioactive.
Thorium is about three to four times more abundant in the Earth's crust than uranium.