Uses
The primary use of thorium is to prepare Welsbach lanterns.  Thorium oxide is what makes the lantern shine, but there are very small amounts of oxygen.  Thorium is a major alloying component in magnesium.  Thorium works to coat the lining of tungsten because of its high amount of electrons and a small work function.  When neutrons attack thorium, thorium turns into uranium.  Thorium oxide is used to make glass in addition to making lanterns.

\History
         In 1828 Berzelius invented Thorium.  Thorium is very similar to the more commonly known Uranium.  These two substances are mostly found our Earth’s crust.  Due to thorium’s atomic weight it is now the second member of the actinide family.  Berzelius discovered this when he took a mineral sample and found an unknown substance.  They figured out that it is much like Uranium and is use for nuclear power.  It was also figured out that thorium is a silvery white metal.

Properties
         Thorium by itself is a silvery white substance that is found in the Earth’s crust.  Thorium is a very soft and ductile metal.  Thorium oxide has one of the highest melting points of 8,100 degrees.  Thorium is assaulted by water and that can sometimes cause it to dissolve.  When thorium is heated and ignited properly it burns and makes a good-looking white light.