Difference between revisions of "Thorium"
m (minor copyedit) |
(moving "advantages" and "disadvantages" sections to "thorium nuclear power" page) |
||
| (One intermediate revision by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | [[category: | + | <hide> |
| + | [[page type::article]] | ||
| + | [[thing type::chemical element]] | ||
| + | [[category:chemical elements]] | ||
| + | </hide> | ||
| + | ==About== | ||
| + | [[Thorium]] is a naturally-occurring radioactive element named for the Norse god Thor. Thorium has a 14 billion year half-life, and is almost as abundant as lead. Along with uranium decay, the radioactive decay of thorium is the primary source of thermal heat in the Earth's mantle. One non-nuclear use of thorium is as an impurity in high-performance camera lenses. | ||
| − | + | Although thorium shows promise [[thorium nuclear power|as a nuclear fuel]], its use in [[nuclear reactor]]s is in the testing and development phases. [[India]]'s plan to use thorium in nuclear power is the best-known, and as of 2012, [[China]] is researching thorium for use in [[generation IV reactor]] designs. | |
| − | |||
| − | Although thorium shows promise as a nuclear fuel, its use in nuclear | ||
==Thorium fuel cycle== | ==Thorium fuel cycle== | ||
| Line 10: | Line 14: | ||
If protactinium-233 is left exposed to neutron radiation, uranium-232 can be formed. Uranium-232, along with its decay products, emit high-energy gamma radiation. This property can be used to discourage uranium-233 proliferation and weaponization, by explicitly designing reactors to only be fueled with thorium, and to make the extraction of protactinium difficult. | If protactinium-233 is left exposed to neutron radiation, uranium-232 can be formed. Uranium-232, along with its decay products, emit high-energy gamma radiation. This property can be used to discourage uranium-233 proliferation and weaponization, by explicitly designing reactors to only be fueled with thorium, and to make the extraction of protactinium difficult. | ||
| − | == | + | ==Links== |
| − | + | ===Reference=== | |
| − | + | * {{wikipedia}} | |
| − | + | * {{conservapedia}}: two sentences as of 2013-01-27; no mention of Thorium nuclear power | |
| − | |||
| − | === | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
Latest revision as of 14:41, 27 January 2013
About
Thorium is a naturally-occurring radioactive element named for the Norse god Thor. Thorium has a 14 billion year half-life, and is almost as abundant as lead. Along with uranium decay, the radioactive decay of thorium is the primary source of thermal heat in the Earth's mantle. One non-nuclear use of thorium is as an impurity in high-performance camera lenses.
Although thorium shows promise as a nuclear fuel, its use in nuclear reactors is in the testing and development phases. India's plan to use thorium in nuclear power is the best-known, and as of 2012, China is researching thorium for use in generation IV reactor designs.
Thorium fuel cycle
Thorium has one naturally-occurring isotope, thorium-232. Thorium itself will not fission upon exposure to neutron radiation like uranium-235, but it will capture a neutron and quickly undergo beta decay (emit an electron) to become protactinium-233. Protactinium-233 has a half-life of about 27 days, and it decays into uranium-233, which is fissile (likely to undergo fission upon exposure to neutrons). Because it can be used to create or "breed" nuclear fuel, thorium is considered fertile.
If protactinium-233 is left exposed to neutron radiation, uranium-232 can be formed. Uranium-232, along with its decay products, emit high-energy gamma radiation. This property can be used to discourage uranium-233 proliferation and weaponization, by explicitly designing reactors to only be fueled with thorium, and to make the extraction of protactinium difficult.
Links
Reference
- Wikipedia
- Conservapedia
: two sentences as of 2013-01-27; no mention of Thorium nuclear power
