Properties of Thorium (Th)
Thorium is a naturally occurring radioactive chemical element with the symbol (Th) and atomic number 90. It is part of the actinide series of elements and is found in small amounts in the Earth’s crust. Thorium is a silvery-white metal that is often used in the nuclear industry as a potential fuel for nuclear reactors.
The following table provides a comprehensive list of thorium (Th) properties in both SI and US customary/Imperial units at normal temperature and pressure (NTP).
Click on the icon to switch between Metric and Imperial units.
| Physical Properties | Metric |
|---|---|
| Crystal Structure | Face-centered cubic (fcc) |
| Atomic Number | 90 |
| Molar Mass | 232.038 g/mol |
| Density | 11720 kg/m3 |
| Mechanical Properties | Metric |
| Young’s Modulus (E) | 78.3 GPa |
| Shear Modulus (G) | 30.8 GPa |
| Bulk Modulus (K) | 53.8 GPa |
| Poisson’s Ratio (ν) | 0.27 |
| Mohs Hardness | 3 |
| Thermal Properties | Metric |
| Melting Point | 1750 °C |
| Boiling Point | 4788 °C |
| Thermal Conductivity (27°C) | 54 W/m·K |
| Specific Heat Capacity (Cp) (25°C) | 118 J/kg·K |
| Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (αL) (25°C) | 1.1×10-5 1/°C |
| Electrical Properties | Metric |
| Electrical Resistivity | 1.57×10-5 Ω·cm |
Unless stated otherwise, all values are taken at room temperature (approximately 20°C or 68°F) and 1 atm pressure. (1 atm = 101,325 Pa)
Related Pages
References: 1) Cardarelli, François. Materials Handbook: A Concise Desktop Reference. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2018. 2) CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 97th Edition. United Kingdom: CRC Press, 2016-2017. 3) A.M. Howatson, P.G. Lun, J.D. Todd, P.D. Engineering Tables and Data. United Kingdom: University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science, 2009.