Actinides

By: Sylvia, Striegs, and

Ryan
Names and Chemical Symbols
Thorium- Chemical symbol Th

Uranium- Chemical symbol U

Neptunium- Chemical symbol Np

Americium- Chemical symbol Am

Californium- Chemical symbol Cf

Einsteinium- Chemical symbol Es

Thorium
Group: Actinides

Type of Element: Radioactive Metal

Valence Electrons: Two with exceptions

State at Room Temperature: Solid

Practical use: Used as an industrial catalyst

Physical Properties: Color silvery, Melting point 3182F, Boiling point

8645F
Uranium
Group: Actinides

Type of Element: Radioactive Metal

Valence Electrons: Two with exceptions

State at Room Temperature: Solid

Practical use: Nuclear fuel in nuclear power plants

Physical Properties: Color Silvery, Melting point 1135F, Boiling point

4131F
Neptunium
Group: Actinides

Type of Element: Radioactive Metal

Valence Electrons: Two with exceptions

State at Room Temperature: Solid

Practical uses: Used in neutron detectors

Physical Properties: Melting point 1191F, Boiling point 7056F, Density

20.2g cm
Americium
Group: Actinides

Type of Element: Radioactive Metal

Valence Electrons: Two with exceptions

State at Room Temperature: Solid

Practical uses: Commonly used in smoke alarms

Physical Properties: Luster Shiny, Density 12g cm, Boiling point 2011C
Californium
Group: Actinides

Type of Element: Radioactive Metal

Valence Electrons: Two with exceptions

State at Room Temperature: Solid

Practical uses: Used in Moisture gauges for the determination of water

and oil bearing layers in oil wells

Physical Properties: Melting point 900F, Density 15.1g cm, Radioactive

Einsteinium
Group: Actinides

Type of Element: Radioactive Metal

Valence Electrons: Two with exceptions

State at Room Temperature: Solid

Practical use: No uses outside of research in particle accelerators

Physical Properties: Melting point 860C, Density unknown, Thermal

0.1W/cmK
Interesting Element Fact
Thorium was named after Norse, god of war and lightning. Because of
the radioactivity and because of its longlife. (14 billion years)
Discovered by Jons Jacob Berzelius.
Comparisons
Lanthanides and Actinides both have high melting and boiling but do
not show any regular trends with increasing atomic number.
Reference List
Anthony,S.(2013).Thorium nuclear reactor trial begins, could provide
cleaner, safer, almost-waste-free energy[Online image]. Retrieved from
http;//www
.extremetech.com/extreme/160131-thorium-nuclear-reactor-trial-begins-
could-provide-cleaner-safer-almost-waste-free-energy

Palmer,A.Elements4kids[Online image]. Retrieved from

https://elements4kids.com/actinoids/93-neptunium-np/

Szkotak,S.(2013).VIRGINIA COMPANY SUES STATE IN HOPES OF MINING

URANIUM[Online image]. Retrieved from
http://www.sfltimes.com/finace-2/virginia-company-sues-state-in-hopes-
of-mining-uranium
Reference List
Clearly Explained[Online image]. Retrieved from
http://clearlyexplained.com/chemical-elements/americium/index.htlm

Californium-Ramirez-7[Online image]. Retrieved from

https://www.thinglink.com/scene/627628210825199618

Shirtoid[Online image]. Retrieved from

http://shirtoid.com/88162/einsteinium