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Specialty Chemistry Forums => Nuclear Chemistry and Radiochemistry Forum => Topic started by: ThUPu on March 30, 2010, 11:05:27 AM

Title: Thorium chemistry?
Post by: ThUPu on March 30, 2010, 11:05:27 AM

Hi people,

Im having difficulty finding information about the chemistry of thorium, does someone know where can i get any data about thorium?
Also, how can I dissolve ThO2 and transform into a different compound? Ive tried hydrochloric, sulfuric and nitric acid and the ThO2 stays absolutely the same!

Thanks.  

Title: Re: Thorium chemistry?
Post by: nj_bartel on March 30, 2010, 12:44:37 PM

ThO2 is already oxidized.  Maybe try reducing agents.

Title: Re: Thorium chemistry?
Post by: AWK on March 31, 2010, 02:05:45 AM

the first google link: thorium radiochemistry
http://library.lanl.gov/cgi-bin/getfile?rc000034.pdf

Title: Re: Thorium chemistry?
Post by: ThUPu on March 31, 2010, 03:03:43 PM

Quote

ThO2 is already oxidized.  Maybe try reducing agents.

Unfortunately, I dont have sodium or calcium metal to reduce ThO2 to thorium metal. The necessary equipment to perform such an experiment would also be quite expensive for me now.

Quote

the first google link: thorium radiochemistry

Yes, ive seen it and it has a lot of information, but it dosent talk much about ThO2 which is the only Th compound that i have.

It does mention that thorium dioxide can be dissolved with hydrochloric or nitric acid with the addition of Ammonium fluorosilicate, but i dont have this substance.

Well, i will have to leave it the way it is at the moment...

Thanks for the help.

Title: Re: Thorium chemistry?
Post by: wereworm73 on April 02, 2010, 04:26:20 PM

My old chemistry handbook says that ThO₂ is soluble in hot concentrated H₂SO₄.

Title: Re: Thorium chemistry?
Post by: ThUPu on April 07, 2010, 08:50:10 PM

I did use hot sulfuiric acid once, but only for a few minutes. I guess i will need to let the reaction go for a couple of hours to see any difference...

I will try that later...

Thanks.