What is thorium?

What is thorium?

EPA Facts about Thorium What is thorium? Thorium is a naturally occurring radioactive metal that is found at low levels in soil, rocks, water, plants, and animals. Almost all naturally occurring thorium exists in the form of either radioactive isotope thorium-232, thorium-230, and thorium-228.

How much thorium is in a camping lantern mantle?

In the mid 1950s nearly 70 percent of the thorium that was being produced in the United States was used for the coating of mantles in camping lanterns. [5] Each mantle contained nearly 250 mg of thorium. [6]

What is the radioactive decay of thorium?

the radioactive decay of thorium. Thorium is a radioactive atom that emits both alpha and beta particles. Though escaping bits of thorium particles are mostly blocked by the glass that surround the lantern, consuming or even smelling thorium can result in health problems, such

What happens when a thorium lamp is lit?

Once the lamp is lit, the heat leads to the glow of the thorium along with the conversion of thorium to thorium oxide releasing numerous products of the radioactive decay of thorium. Thorium is a radioactive atom that emits both alpha and beta particles. [2]