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Despite thorium's position in the f-block of the periodic table, it has an anomalous [Rn]6d 2 7s 2 electron configuration in the ground state, as the 5f and 6d subshells in the early actinides are very close in energy, even more so than the 4f and 5d subshells of the lanthanides: thorium's 6d subshells are lower in energy than its 5f subshells ...
Despite thorium's position in the f-block of the periodic table, it has an anomalous [Rn]6d 2 7s 2 electron configuration in the ground state, as the 5f and 6d subshells in the early actinides are very close in energy, even more so than the 4f and 5d subshells of the lanthanides.
For each atom the subshells are given first in concise form, then with all subshells written out, followed by the number of electrons per shell. For phosphorus (element 15) as an example, the concise form is [Ne] 3s 2 3p 3 .
Thorium resources have not been estimated and assessed with a higher level of confidence, as in the case of uranium. Approximately 6 million tonnes of thorium have been estimated globally based on currently limited exploration and mainly on historical data. [4] [5] Thorium resources are found widely in over 35 countries all over the world.
For example, thallium (Z = 81) has the ground-state configuration 1s 2 2s 2 2p 6 3s 2 3p 6 4s 2 3d 10 4p 6 5s 2 4d 10 5p 6 6s 2 4f 14 5d 10 6p 1 [4] or in condensed form, [Xe] 6s 2 4f 14 5d 10 6p 1. Other authors write the subshells outside of the noble gas core in order of increasing n , or if equal, increasing n + l , such as Tl ( Z = 81) [Xe ...
Each thorium atom is connected twice to each of four bidentate nitrate groups, and to three water molecules via their oxygen atoms. In total the thorium is eleven-coordinated. There are also two other water molecules in the crystal structure. The water is hydrogen bonded to other water, or to nitrate groups. [7] The density is 2.80 g/cm 3. [4]
Thorium-232 is a fertile material; it can capture a neutron to form thorium-233, which subsequently undergoes two successive beta decays to uranium-233, which is fissile. As such, it has been used in the thorium fuel cycle in nuclear reactors; various prototype thorium-fueled reactors have been designed.
Thorium has been suggested for use in thorium-based nuclear power. In many countries the use of thorium in consumer products is banned or discouraged because it is radioactive. It is currently used in cathodes of vacuum tubes, for a combination of physical stability at high temperature and a low work energy required to remove an electron from ...