When an isotope emits an alpha particle its atomic number?

When an isotope emits an alpha particle its atomic number?

Alpha decay When a nucleus emits an alpha particle, these changes happen: the mass number decreases by 4. the atomic number decreases by 2. the nuclear charge decreases by 2.

What element does thorium become if it emits an alpha particle?

element helium

Why was thorium named after Thor?

Thorium was discovered in 1828 by the Norwegian amateur mineralogist Morten Thrane Esmark and identified by the Swedish chemist Jöns Jacob Berzelius, who named it after Thor, the Norse god of thunder. In the second half of the century, thorium was replaced in many uses due to concerns about its radioactivity.

Is thorium shiny or dull?

Pure thorium metal is an air-stable silvery white which can retain its luster for months.

Is thorium better than uranium?

Thorium-based reactors are safer because the reaction can easily be stopped and because the operation does not have to take place under extreme pressures. Compared to uranium reactors, thorium reactors produce far less waste and the waste that is generated is much less radioactive and much shorter-lived.

Are there any active thorium reactors?

Aqueous Homogeneous Reactors (AHRs) have been proposed as a fluid fueled design that could accept naturally occurring uranium and thorium suspended in a heavy water solution. AHRs have been built and according to the IAEA reactor database, 7 are currently in operation as research reactors.

How much does a thorium reactor cost?

Generally, it’s believed that $300 million would be enough for small thorium power plant. We assume a small plant means about 200 MW. Another way to get a handle on thorium-reactor costs would be to examine the cost of current conventional reactors under construction, such as the Vogtle units in Georgia.

Will uranium ever run out?

If the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) has accurately estimated the planet’s economically accessible uranium resources, reactors could run more than 200 years at current rates of consumption. Taking both steps would cut the uranium requirements of an LWR in half.

Can we create uranium?

Uranium-235 is the only naturally occurring fissile isotope, which makes it widely used in nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons. Another fissile isotope, uranium-233, can be produced from natural thorium and is studied for future industrial use in nuclear technology.