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thorium

thorium

19 9.8
A soft silvery-white radioactive metal used as fuel in some nuclear reactors
  • noun
  • /ˈθɔːriəm/
  • Specialized
: torio
  • The typical plan for a breeder is to start with fertile thorium, which, after capturing a neutron, decays to fissile uranium-233.
  • thorium and uranium
  • fertile thorium
  • thorium molten salt

And I think small nuclear will do it, as well as thorium reactors, which are now safe nuclear reactors.

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Examples

  • And I think small nuclear will do it, as well as thorium reactors, which are now safe nuclear reactors.

  • The largest new effort has been in France with the development of the thorium molten salt reactor.

    Academic text (2010)
  • There is a whole contingent of the nuclear industry that believes thorium would be a much better technology.

    Blog text (6)
  • The Indians in their trials of thorium have used LWRs and PWRs.

    Blog text (11)
  • The most important innovations are molten salt reactors, thorium reactors, and small modular reactors.

  • A molten salt thorium breeder reactor has been proposed for thorium, which is said to simplify reprocessing U-232.

    Blog text (11)
  • I hope this helps educate you (deuterium) on the advantages of thorium breeder reactors over uranium-type reactors.

    Blog text (11)
  • Thorium is considered a promising alternative to thorium for use in nuclear reactors.

  • Scientists are exploring the benefits of using thorium as a nuclear fuel source.

  • Many researchers believe that thorium could play a significant role in the future of sustainable energy.

Synonyms

Th
vsthorium
  • Specialized
8 9.5

The chemical symbol for the metal thorium used in some nuclear reactors

is the actual metallic element rather than its written symbol

Compounds

thorium-228
  • Specialized
9.9

A radioactive atom used in nuclear research that has 228 particles in its core

Surface Forms

thorium singular
thoriums plural

Morphology

thorium = Thor (semi-transparent) = Thor + ium

Formally transparent as a name plus the common chemical suffix '-ium', but the specific properties (radioactive metallic element) are not predictable from the base 'Thor' by an average learner.

Etymology

Thorium is named after the Norse god Thor, the 'god of thunder'. The ending -ium appears in many element names like helium, so Thorium is a metal named for Thor, and thinking of Thor's power helps you remember it is a radioactive metal used as a fuel in nuclear power.