British Sign Language Glossaries of Curriculum Terms

BSL Environmental Science Glossary - Thorium reactor definition

Definition: A nuclear power station may use thorium to provide nuclear energy through nuclear fission. For these reactions you need uranium 233, however there is insufficient uranium in the world to provide enough energy. However there is plenty of thorium available, so this is used instead. Thorium is not fissile so cannot be used for triggering a nuclear fission chain reaction, it will not release energy in itself. But when bombarded with neutrons, it converts into uranium 233 atoms, which then can be used in reactions for releasing energy. In this way plenty more uranium can be made for this use.