Thorium_tetrafluoride

Thorium(IV) fluoride

Thorium(IV) fluoride

Chemical compound

Thorium(IV) fluoride (ThF4) is an inorganic chemical compound. It is a white hygroscopic powder which can be produced by reacting thorium with fluorine gas. At temperatures above 500 °C, it reacts with atmospheric moisture to produce ThOF2.[1]

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Uses

Despite its (mild) radioactivity, thorium fluoride is used as an antireflection material in multilayered optical coatings. It has excellent optical transparency in the range 0.35–12 µm, and its radiation is primarily due to alpha particles, which can be easily stopped by a thin cover layer of another material.[2][3] However, like all alpha emitters, thorium is potentially hazardous if incorporated, which means safety should focus on reducing or eliminating this danger. In addition to its radioactivity, thorium is also a chemically toxic heavy metal.

Thorium fluoride was used[when?] in making carbon arc lamps, which provided high-intensity illumination for movie projectors and search lights.[4][5]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Dale L. Perry, Sidney L. Phillips (1995). Handbook of inorganic compounds. CRC Press. p. 412. ISBN 0-8493-8671-3.
  2. [2]
    James D. Rancourt (1996). Optical thin films: user handbook. SPIE Press. p. 196. ISBN 0-8194-2285-1.
  3. [3]
    W. Heitmann and E. Ritter (1968). "Production and properties of vacuum evaporated films of thorium fluoride". Appl. Opt. 7 (2): 307–9. Bibcode:1968ApOpt...7..307H. doi:10.1364/AO.7.000307. PMID 20062461.
  4. [4]
    McKetta, John J. (1996). Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing and Design: Thermoplastics to Trays, Separation, Useful Capacity. CRC Press. p. 81. ISBN 0-8247-2609-X.
  5. [5]
    Thorium tetrafluoride Archived 2013-02-16 at archive.today International Bio-Analytical Industries, Inc.
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