Thorium dicarbide

Thorium dicarbide is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula ThC2.

Preparation
Thorium dicarbide can be produced by reacting metal thorium and graphite at 2000~2500 °C:


 * Th + 2C -> ThC2

Physical
Thorium dicarbide is a yellow crystalline solid that decomposes in water. It ignites at 2773 °C and becomes superconducting at 9 K. At room temperature it has a monoclinic crystal structure with the space group C2/c (space group no. 15). At temperatures between 1430 °C and 1480 °C it exists in a tetragonal phase and above that in a cubic crystal structure.

Chemical
Thorium dicarbide can be rapidly hydrolyzed in the air to generate thorium dioxide, hydrogen and hydrocarbons. Its reaction rate is 10 times that of the corresponding uranium dicarbide. It can also react with acids, such as sulfuric acid, to generate thorium(IV) sulfate.

External reading

 * Ishino, Toshio; Tamura, Hideo. Thorium carbides. Technology Reports of the Osaka University, 1965. 16 (658–684): 315–324. ISSN: 0030-6177. CODEN: TROUAI.
 * Ishino, Toshio; Tamura, Hideo. Thorium carbides. Technology Reports of the Osaka University, 1965. 16 (658–684): 315–324. ISSN: 0030-6177. CODEN: TROUAI.