Does uranium decay into thorium?
Uranium-238 decays by alpha emission into thorium-234, which itself decays by beta emission to protactinium-234, which decays by beta emission to uranium-234, and so on. If inhaled or ingested, however, its radioactivity poses increased risks of lung cancer and bone cancer.
What does thorium decay into?
radium-224
Thorium- 228 is a decay product of radium-228, and thorium-228 decays into radium-224. The radiation from the decay of thorium and its decay products is in the form of alpha and beta particles and gamma radiation. Alpha particles can travel only short distances and cannot penetrate human skin.
How long does thorium take to decay?
The most stable isotope, 232Th, has a half-life of 14.05 billion years, or about the age of the universe; it decays very slowly via alpha decay, starting a decay chain named the thorium series that ends at stable 208Pb.
What is the decay reaction of thorium-234?
When thorium-234 decays, it releases negatively charged radiation called beta particles. A beta particle is an electron emitted by an unstable nucleus. The symbol for a beta particle is 0e.
Is thorium safer than uranium?
Safety: Compared to mining of uranium for nuclear fuel, mining thorium is considered as safer and more efficient. Also, thorium’s ore monazite generally comprises significant amounts of thorium, making the element’s extraction cost effective without much impact on the environment.
How harmful is thorium?
Since thorium is radioactive and may be stored in bone for a long time, bone cancer is also a potential concern for people exposed to thorium. Animal studies have shown that breathing in thorium may result in lung damage.
Which is the decay chain of thorium and uranium?
The decay chains of natural thorium and uranium give rise to minute traces of Th-228, Th-230 and Th-234, but the presence of these in mass terms is negligible. It decays eventually to lead-208. When pure, thorium is a silvery white metal that retains its lustre for several months.
How are uranium, radium, and thorium related?
Uranium, radium, and thorium occur in three natural decay series, headed by uranium-238, thorium-232, and uranium-235, respectively. In nature, the radionuclides in these three series are approximately in a state of secular equilibrium, in which the activities of all radionuclides within each series are nearly equal.
Which is the isotopic form of thorium in nature?
Thorium exists in nature in a single isotopic form – Th-232 – which decays very slowly (its half-life is about three times the age of the Earth). The decay chains of natural thorium and uranium give rise to minute traces of Th-228, Th-230 and Th-234, but the presence of these in mass terms is negligible.
What kind of radiation can you get from thorium?
The radiation from the decay of thorium and its decay products is in the form of alpha and beta particles and gamma radiation. Alpha particles can travel only short distances and cannot penetrate human skin. Beta particles are generally absorbed in the skin and do not pass through the entire body. Gamma radiation, however, can penetrate the body.
