Element 90

Thorium (Th)

Actinide · Period 7 · f-block

Thorium (Th) is element 90 of the periodic table, a actinide in period 7 (f-block) with an atomic mass of 232.04 and is a solid at standard conditions.

At a glance

Atomic number
90
Symbol
Th
Atomic mass
232.04 u
Category
Actinides
Period
7
Block
f-block
Phase at STP
solid

Electron structure

Electron configuration
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 6s2 6p6 6d2 7s2
Shorthand configuration
[Rn] 6d2 7s2
Electrons per shell
2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 10, 2
Oxidation states
+1, +2, +3, +4

Physical properties

Melting point
2115 K
Boiling point
5061 K
Density
11.72 g/cm3
Phase
solid

Atomic properties

Electronegativity (Pauling)
1.3
Atomic radius
180 pm
Covalent radius
206 pm
First ionization energy
587 kJ/mol
Electron affinity
113 kJ/mol

Notable isotopes

IsotopeMassAbundanceStability
Th-232232.03806Half-life 14 billion years

Common uses

  • Nuclear fuel research
  • Gas mantles
  • Welding electrodes
  • Optics

Discovery

Year
1829
Discovered by
Jöns Jacob Berzelius
Country
Sweden

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