Thorium

Thorium, with the chemical symbol Th and atomic number 90, is a fascinating chemical element discovered in 1828. The Swedish chemist Jöns Jacob Berzelius first identified it in mineral samples and named it after Thor, the Germanic god of thunder. Thorium is more abundant on Earth than uranium and is a naturally occurring, radioactive element.

The discovery of Thorium opened the door to numerous applications. Due to its fissionable capabilities, it was used as a fuel in early nuclear research and reactors. Today, it finds use in the nuclear industry for manufacturing fuel elements. Additionally, it is employed in glassmaking to enhance optical properties.

The key Thorium isotopes are Thorium-232 and Thorium-230. Thorium-232 boasts an impressively long half-life of about 14 billion years, while Thorium-230 has a half-life of approximately 75,380 years.

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