Alpha Decay of Thorium-232

232Th → 228Ra + 4He

Descripción general

Thorium-232 alpha decays to radium-228 with a half-life of 14.05 billion years, longer than the age of the universe. Thorium is about 3-4 times more abundant than uranium in Earth's crust. The thorium fuel cycle is an alternative to uranium for nuclear energy with proliferation-resistance advantages.

Participantes

Rol Sustancia Coeficiente Estado
Reactivo Thorium Th 1 (s)
Producto Radium Ra 1 (s)
Producto Helium He 1 (g)

Ejemplo cotidiano

Camping lantern mantles historically contained thorium oxide, which made them glow brightly when heated.

Importancia industrial

El torio podría alimentar reactores nucleares con menos residuos de larga vida que el uranio. India cuenta con un importante programa de desarrollo de reactores de torio.

Propiedades

Tipo
Nuclear
Reversible
No
Energía
Exotérmico
ΔH
-400000000,0 kJ/mol

Reacciones relacionadas

Alpha Decay of Radium-226 Alpha Decay of Radon-222 Neutron Capture by Uranium-238 Beta Decay of Iodine-131 Beta Decay of Strontium-90 Alpha Decay of Polonium-210 Americium-241 Alpha Decay Beta Decay of Cobalt-60 Plutonium-239 Fission Electron Capture by Beryllium-7

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the equation for Alpha Decay of Thorium-232?
The balanced equation is: ²³²Th → ²²⁸Ra + ⁴He.
What type of reaction is Alpha Decay of Thorium-232?
Alpha Decay of Thorium-232 is a nuclear reaction.
Is Alpha Decay of Thorium-232 exothermic or endothermic?
Alpha Decay of Thorium-232 is exothermic (releases energy). The enthalpy change (ΔH) is -400000000.0 kJ/mol.