The US Relationships with Panama and China

The US Relationships with Panama and China The U.S. and Panama Relationships since the End of the Cold War The USA and Panama relationships after the Cold War started with the invasion of the USA into the country. This was the first large-scale force of the USA non-connected with the Cold War. The main reason of such invasion was the overturn of the authoritarian leader, Manuel Antonio Noriega, â€Å"a corrupt dictator heading an efficient narcomilitaristic regime in Panama† (Gilboa, 1995, p. 539).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The US Relationships with Panama and China specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The USA did not plan to provide military operations in the direction of Panama. Trying to warn, convince, beg, etc., the USA wanted to cope with the task by means of peaceful negotiations. However, Manuel Antonio Noriega did not want to stop harmful actions, therefore, the USA desired to act. Nevertheless, the USA just wanted to give a lesson to the Panama leader and the force invasion was just the means for warning. However, the ac t was not that successful as the USA thought. After this measure, Panama was not of the high opinion of the USA. The USA was expected to learn a good lesson â€Å"after the damage of bureaucratic infighting and miscommunication was evident in the Panama and the Gulf crises† (Gilboa, 1995, p. 540). The U.S. and Panama Current Relationships Sullivan (2011) characterizes the current relationships of the USA with Panama as â€Å"extensive cooperation on counternarcotics efforts; support to promote Panama’s economic, political, and social development; and a proposed bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) that was signed in 2007† (p. 14). The free trade agreement between these two countries brings much advantage of the both parties of the deal. The USA offers great financial support for the development of the Panama business. The USA and Panama conduct many security operations to gether. The relationships between these two countries are rather friendly, however, these relations are based on a number of treaties and agreements which are signed officially. Panama is unable to cope with drug trafficking and money laundering, there fore, the USA offers its assistance in such questions. The USA is interested in dealing with the issue as the USA remains one of the main markets for Panama drugs due to the appropriate geographical location.Advertising Looking for research paper on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Obama exclaimed to develop the labor and tax policy to make sure that the relationships between Panama and the USA are correctly signed. Therefore, Panama citizens have an opportunity to work legally on the territory of the USA with the minimum required documents and other legal issues. Panama Canal has always been the issue for discussion between the USA and Panama. However, the recent treaties have been developed where the Panama Canal remains the property of Panama, however, the USA has an opportunity to use it in military purposes whenever it needs. The U.S. and China Current Relationships The end of the Cold War presupposed that great changes are going to be completed in the configuration of the international relations. The USA shifted its interest from the European countries into the Asian ones. It should be mentioned that China has become the focus of the USA due to its rapid development. The USA understood that China is going to enter the world economics in the nearest future and the friendly market relationships with this country would bring good profit. Of course, the USA could not expect that everything would go straight, as â€Å"China’s involvement in international institutions, norms, and regimes in the near future† (Islam, 2006, p. 24) as well as the USA policy in the direction of China was to be the main issues for relationships development. Nowadays, the relationships between the USA and China remain relatively stable. Even though China is far from democratic regime and the USA does not really appreciate such relations, still, the USA and China develop friendly relationships at the international; arena where the USA tries to make China a responsible stakeholder (Nagao, Yoshizaki, Sato, Okagaki, 2000, p. 29). Contrast and Comparison of the Two Relationships Looking at the development of the USA relationships with Panama and China, it may be stated that nowadays, the USA tires to remain friendly to other countries. The post Cold War period was complicated and the USA needed much attempt and diplomatic strength to understand which relations deserve attention and which ones are to be a failure.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The US Relationships with Panama and China specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Panama and Chin a are two countries which relationships with the USA after the Cold War developed differently, however, the current relationships are similar. The USA is the country which tries to control others in their development and gaining democratic issues, and Panama and China are the countries which remain under the USA control. China is independent from the USA, however, the USA does all possible to change the regime in China applying to the economical and political measures. Panama is the country which developed its relations with the USA through force invasion. Nowadays, the relations are friendly, however, Panama experiences some control from the side of the USA. Therefore, it may be concluded that having different post Cold War relationships, the USA develops its ties with such countries as Panama and China similarly. Gilboa, E. (1995). The Panama Invasion Revisited: Lessons for the Use of Force in the Post Cold War Era. Political Science Quarterly, 110(4), 539-373. Islam, A. K. (2006 ). The post-cold war U.S.-China relations: win-win or zero-sum game. Asian Affairs, 28(2), 24-45. Nagao, Y., Yoshizaki, T., Sato, H., Okagaki, T. (2000, 1 March). Post-Cold War International Society and U.S.-China Relationship. NIDS Security Reports, pp. 1-56. Sullivan, Mark P. (2011, 11 May). Panama: Political and Economic Conditions and U.S. Relations. Congressional Research Service, pp. 1-33.Advertising Looking for research paper on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More

Hepatitis B Virus Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Hepatitis B Virus - Essay Example The complete infective virion is a 42nm particle comprising an inner core of 27 nm surrounded by an outer envelope of surface protein HBsAg. This surface coat is produced in excess by the infected hepatocytes and can exist separately form the whole virion in the serum and the body as 22nm particle. The genome of HBV is a partially double stranded circular DNA molecule with a unique In that all regions of the viral genome encode protein sequences. HBsAG contains a major â€Å"a† antigenic determinant as well as several subtypes: â€Å"d† â€Å"y† â€Å"w† and â€Å"r†. Combinations of these sub-determinants ( e:g adr, adw, ayw, and ayr) are used to classify HBV genotypes A-H of which the main types are type A(35%) B(225) (31%) and D(10%). There is a strong correlation between genotypes and geographical areas. Genotype A is mainly seen in North west Europe, North America, North America and central Africa; B in south East Asia; C in south East Asia D; in southern Europe, India and the middle East; E in west Africa; F in south and central America, in American Indians and in Polynesia. G in France and the USA; and H in central and south America. The core is formed of core protein (HBcAg) containing incompletely double stranded circular DNA and DNA polymerase/reverse transcriptase. One strand is almost a complete circle and contains overlapping genes that encode both structural proteins (pre-S, surface (s), core (s)) and replicative proteins (polymerase and x). The other strand is variable in length synthesis during the viral replication. If there is an acute clinical episode the virus is cleared in approximately 90% of patients as there is a good immune reaction. There is serum sickness-like immunological syndrome see urticaria or maculopapular rash and polyathritis affecting small joints and occurring in up to 25% of case in the subclinical period. There is increase of temperature. Extrahepatic immune

Space and Place Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Space and Place - Assignment Example However, the visit was different as we had to travel to China for the amazing experience. I was excited about this trip as it would give me an opportunity to experience a skywalk or a glass trail that was elevated at four thousand seven hundred feet above sea level. I had imagined a similar experience to that of the Grand Canyon skywalk, but the walk on the glass trail was fascinating, breathtaking and frightening at the same time. Every step that I took on the breathtaking glass walkway reminded me that my life was held by three inches of glass suspended over hundreds of metres from the bottom of the mountain. This trail was unique in that it excited and scared me, therefore, captivated all my senses at the same time. It is one of the greatest places that I have ever visited and it created a lasting impression on my mind. The glass trail is located high on the Tianmen Mountain in the Hunan province of mainland China. The area is famous with tourists for its beautiful national parks, mountain sceneries, the Chinese culture and a wide range of animal and plant species. In order to access the glass walkway, one has to use cable cars provided at the bottom of the mountain. Tianmen Mountain has the longest passenger cableway that allows the rider to get a clear complete view of the beautiful landscape, valleys and the vegetation around the area. The high elevation of the mountain leaves a lasting impression on an individual’s mind as one travels in the cable car (Darrall). The two hundred feet glass walkway is built on a cliff on the Tianmen Mountain. It is three feet wide and has a steel rail on the open side protecting the site observers from toppling over. Watching the view of the landscape from the skywalk is breathtaking as it provides a different panorama of the mountain. It provides a clear view of the moist, misty landscape. The roads, the rivers and other physical features seem minute from this view and

Continuous Development Of Modern Media Technology Media Essay

Continuous Development Of Modern Media Technology Media Essay With the continuous development of modern media technology, constantly updated means of communication and increasingly rich forms of communication, mass media almost always affects people in all aspects of life. In current society, a variety of communications activities has become indispensable in our lives. As an example, the radio program Mars on Earth reported in 1938, which led to huge panic in the United States adequately illustrated this point. TV, newspapers, online news, and radio stations and other news media access to information are now the most important source of information for people to understand the social. Media as an integral part of life, its coverage means often affects the publics mood, and the report of peoples point of view often leads the trend of public opinion. While the continuous spread of important information for the audience, the media is also instilling the relevant concept to audience in a subtle way, in order to affects our attitude, and thus to some extent, to change our view of the world. Just as C. Wright Mills stated that Media not only give us information, they guide our very experiences. This paper will make a detailed analysis of the social function of the media, first introduced the media function in the information dissemination, and discusses the media as information channel for people to provide services. Then this paper will analyze in which way the media influence peoples attitudes, behaviors and experiences. 2.0 The social function of the media The news media is part of the whole social system, which is responsible for reporting the development of the whole society and change, recording the process of the functioning of society bit by bit, with has social information dissemination, public opinion, social supervision and cultural heritage features. In all above, information dissemination is the most basic function of the media, and it has been undertaking to pass true and accurate social information, as well as the task of passing the first-hand information to the audience. Through continually providing a large number of reports of the social events, media transfers flow of information about the surrounding environment, transportation, culture, news, financial market to the public, and also a variety of impending disaster has occurred or, threats and other information to meet their needs. (Bryant Oliver, 2009) In addition to the basic functions of information dissemination, media also has social supervision, education and guidance functions. This paper focuses on the social function of how media guides peoples behavior. 3.0 Means by which media guide peoples experience 3.1 Media decides the content and intensity of information dissemination by news selection There are many large and small event happen every day in the world, reporters choose what to report and what not to have set the window limits for the mass audience, and the scope of the subject of discussion. (Deephouse, 2000) The media measures whether the incident should be reported and how they are reported by a certain news value, in which the fresh of news and timeliness are the key criteria. The fierce ratings competition between media makes the journalists must be ready to face tight time pressure; they all hope to make exclusive reports and starting the news. (Lengel Trevino, 1987) When a hot topic in the head, the media will rush to chase stories, all television, newspaper layout with large, a lot of time around the same topic, it is important to create the atmosphere. But soon, when the subject lost its news value, it will completely disappear in the media. The chase of timely news brings urgent pressure of time, so that media workers have difficulties to do in-depth coverage of events. The media led the public to focus a particular issue, it will also lead us quickly forget the subject. 3.2 To guide the public emotions through different ways of media coverage Press report is easy to influence the publics perception of news events, and lead us to a particular point of view to understand the event. The news media report implied social customs, ethics, philosophy, personality temperament and other news elements of influence and control human emotions more and more apparent. (Scannell, 1992) For example, media report to specific geographical coverage and the spread of video content, due to re-process or phenomenon and not only focus on its nature, to live lives of such people would deepen the misunderstanding of people and things, the tendency of these people and events to be rendering, and thus have a negative impact on the public: not only will affect the groups feelings, but also affects the positioning. Medias role is to help us to transcend personal experience of life constraints, let us know what is happening in other corners. News reporting should be objective and fair. But each persons perception of the world derived from the individuals life experience, according to different backgrounds, social status, gender, ethnic group, different people present for the same facts, is bound to see a different face, resulting in different interpretations, no one can remove the view or values . Of course, media are no exception. The integration of these differences in the news becomes emotional and cognitive impact of a factor to people. 3.3 The development of new technologies creates more possibilities for the media influence on people Television reports which allow people to the text provided in the newspaper and sound provided by broadcast, itll also see a real vivid picture. TV news focuses on visual effects, even if not shooting pictures, television stations often use computer graphics showing the incident, manufacturing, and shot in the visual. These impressive images are easy to be trusted by people, so television has more social control force than other media. In addition, the way to receive information from television is mostly passive, television is relatively weak selective information, which more seriously confined the scope of access to information sources of the audience. In todays information society, media pluralism has been formed. In the press, radio, television and other media followed by a fourth media Internet. (Edwards, 1998) The rapid development of new media provides more extensive information on the public. (Couldry Curran, 2003) 3.4 advertising leadS tendency of the media coverage Advertising is the greatest sense aggressors of modern society and the strongest message implants. As an advertising vehicle of the release of advertising, the tremendous impact on the news media brought by the advertising is inevitable. As we all know, at present, the news media advertising is still the most important publishing platform. News and advertising co-exist on one platform, to contradictions and problems inevitably arise. (Schewe, 2004)As social and economic development, the role of advertising is growing. It passes the information to promote economic development in goods but also to both the media and advertisers to create huge economic interests. In the interests of the stimulation, the media coverage will inevitably have a certain bias. Media on corporate image, product performance, marketing activities and other information for publicity, this practice is called soft ads by some media, and is called hidden advertising by advertisers. For ordinary consumers, these practices are very deceptive in nature. This appears to news is actually a style advertising openly in the news section, so unknown to the audience and may mislead them to believe. 4. How peoples experience be guided by media 4.1 Reconstruction of social values through public opinion Opinion is the most controversial social life events have a certain tendency to published comments, opinions and views. As a common psychological tendency of public opinion, it is hidden in the depths of peoples thinking, through the social assessment with value judgments, such as a specific values or behavior of the praise and admiration or criticism and condemnation, resulting in a social atmosphere, to have an impact on the values and behavior of the community Members. With members of the broad impact on society, public opinion has become an important means of cultural control, and the control system in modern society has an important position. Through the role of public opinion, on the one hand, the mass media will be the legislative branch and public administration institutions to develop, promulgate laws, decrees made public, called on people to adhere to the existing social norms, while the mass media to spread the people values, beliefs and life behavior in order to guide public choice to establish a correct outlook on life and behavior; on the other hand, public opinion and mass media will call through the network, television, radio, newspapers and other channels back to the social ruling, prompting the legislature and public regulatory bodies to consider the public demand, the existing legal and institutional system to adjust and improve, and continuously improve its administrative capacity to maintain social stability and social order. Thus, there is the formation of mainstream social values, although it is not mandatory like the law, it generally widespread impact on peoples thinking and behavior as an invisible constraint. 4.2 To change the publics lifestyle and spending habits Mass media treats guide as a starting point, using its powerful propaganda to make people happy in leisure reading among accepted the new consumption patterns and lifestyles, (Morris Ogan, 1996) which gave birth to consumer culture. The shopping information published in the Newspaper also makes people change their attitudes in consumer. Which stores have recently engaged in activities, what brand, price number, price information, etc. Which pharmacies, we reported on the exchange received from these messages, and compare, go consumption. Difference with the elderly is that, young people read newspapers are concerned about the strong style of entertainment news and employment information. Some people also go through the information reported on the drivers, waiters, security and other jobs. From that point on, the mass media, consumer culture and consumption in the formation of lifestyle play a conspiracy role. 4.3 News reports of crime and violence have a tremendous impact on people With the development of society, media attention on political related events has gone from a single broadened to a variety of criminal phenomena, showing a trend of diversification. With the strengthening of public opinion functions, the number of news reports of crime and weight has been significantly improved, which strongly shocked criminals, and demonstrate the power of the rule of law. (Thoman, 2010) Media is keen to report crime and the main reason is that crime news concerns the audience easily and access to them more attractive. Crime news reports often have twists and turns of the plot, as well as the color of violence, it has more stimulating and entertaining elements than the other news stories. The authenticity of news reports also makes it depicts the victims of crime, especially violent crime, to bring serious consequences, more than the literary fiction film and television has more power to shock. Driven by the economic interests, news reports of crime is inevitably some distortion of the real social phenomenon: excessive rendering of malignant cases, highlighting the cruel circumstances, the disclosure of personal privacy and other related personnel cases. Violation of implied theory believes that exposure to aggressive stimuli may increase a persons motivation level of physical and emotional. In other words, the content of news violence can increase aggressive behavior stimulation occur. In some cases, aggressive characters in the news will give them a role model. Which can be seen, the mass media violence and the proliferation of pornography are often imperceptible to the audiences behavior and way of life tend to have a negative impact on these effects if left unchecked, it is possible to induce the production of deviant behavior. Elizabeth (2010) said that, Many blame media for the rise in violence, but of course thats not the whole storyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Some of the details of this connection might be questioned But the fact that a connection exists is hard to dispute. Which leads us to an inescapable conclusion: Something must be done. The media should adopt accurate news reports of crime, so the audience can keep abreast of the latest social facts of the crime, ease because it caused an unknown number of tension, suspicion, rumors and other negative emotions have to create a good environment for punishing evil and promote good. 5. Summary Since the 20th century, mass media has had a profound impact on peoples lives. The newspapers, books, radio, television, communications satellites and the Internet all represented the modern media space, which makes the whole world a small village. In the aspect of time, the whole community culture and communication network system stay in the same structure, which enables human to enjoy the same important information at the same time, so that all ethnic and cultural exchanges and interaction between real world. The news media with modern sense has become the dominant mode of existence of a culture in modern society the news media culture. Media culture on the psychological characteristics, behavioral structure, attitudes toward other aspects have had a significant effect on the contemporary human life form, content and even ways of thinking have changed dramatically along. With the in-depth of news media era, mass media plays in contemporary society, not only to transmit information, provide entertainment and other social functions, but also changing peoples values and way of life, shaping the social and public life. It continually to provide a series of community-oriented public values and colors to create a highly popular media discourse system, the media text is also increasingly becoming an important form of the modern spirit of the consumer. As a result, the news media become a pervasive cultural existence for its coverage of the large community and huge influence on people in modern society. The news media refers to mass media culture as a carrier; to the media of expression is the basic characteristic of modern society, a cultural phenomenon unique. Either as channels for the dissemination of information, or acts to guide the public, news media should be fully aware of their responsibility, (Curran Seaton, 2003) and try to make it fair and make contribute to sound development for the community. (2109 words)

Crabs For The Crabber :: essays research papers

Crabs For the Crabber   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Would you like to learn how to make around two hundred dollars a day for going out in the boat and crabbing for a few hours? Once you gain the experience of a commercial crabber, you can earn as much as you want. All it takes is a little time and effort to learn the basic steps, and, of course, the love of the water. For the last two years, I have kept the books for my boyfriend's crabbing business. I helped him from the beginning when we purchased the traps to today, when he is now running 150 traps.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On the boat, you should always have as many life jackets as people. Flares and a marine radio should also be on the boat in case of an emergency. For instance, if you are five miles out over the ocean and the boat runs out of gas, you could light a flare and reach some help on the marine radio. You should also keep an oar on the boat at all times. This would come in handy if your boat is stuck in mud, or if the boat breaks down in the small creeks near your dock. I also recommend that you have crabbing gloves and rubber overalls from Boater's World. The gloves have special rubber tips that help reduce the pain if a crab pinches you. The overalls will protect your clothes from getting drenched and muddy. The last thing that you should never leave the dock without is plenty of liquids to drink. I recommend Gatorade or water, but no soft drinks. It is very hot on the boat and fluids are a necessity so that you do no dehydrate.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Before you can start crabbing, you need certain materials. The most important is a commercial license to sell crabs. A license can be purchased from the Game Warden in Richmond Hill. You must go early in the year because they only sell a limited number. Once you have a license and your personal number for your traps, you need a large flat bottom boat with a powerful motor. I recommend a Yamaha Salt Water Series. This motor is very reliable and can handle the long hours put on it. You should also buy a wench and have it bolted to the side of the boat. The wench is not necessary, but is will save a lot of time and effort to pull up all of the traps. A dolly should be kept on the dock to take the boxes of crabs to the truck.

Children In Early Modern Europe DBQ

Children DBQIn early modern Europe, various assumptions were made about children and how to raise them. Some families went with detachment, tender love, or cruelty. All of these assumptions, more or less, affected child-rearing practices.In the 1550s in Florence, Italy, Benvenuto Cellini describes a time where he visited his natural, born in wedlock, son. â€Å"..when I wanted to leave he refused to let me go.. breaking into a storm of crying and screaming† â€Å"I detached myself from my little boy and left him crying his eyes out† (Document 4) Because the childhood mortality rate was so high, men and women would teach themselves to not get themselves so attached to their children, because they would pass away at the cause of some sort of ailment or lack of good health.In 1693, in London, a famous philosopher by the name of John Locke wrote an essay/book called, â€Å"Some Thoughts Concerning Education†. In it, he writes, â€Å"..I do not intend any other but s uch as suited to the child’s capacity and apprehension† â€Å"..they must be treated as rational creatures.. Make them sensible by the mildness of your carriage and composure† When Locke write this he means that if you show your child no emotion, your manner will teach them that everything you do is necessary for their well-being, and thus, teaching them that nothing will be handed to them in life. (Document 11)In Amsterdam, in 1762, the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau informs us in his writing, â€Å"Emile†, about the negativities of indulgence. â€Å"An excess of rigor and an excess of indulgence are both to be avoided. If by too much care you spare them every kind of discomfort† Rousseau is telling us that by protecting the children from every sort of misery in the world, you are not preparing them for the harsh life in early modern Europe. (Document 12)Although most preferred the detachment method when it came to children, some cherished their children and showered them in tender love. Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle, writes in a letter about her mother’s way of raising her. â€Å"We were bred tenderly, for my mother naturally did strive to please and delight her children, not to cross and torment them..† By  this, she believes that cruelty and detachment to children is not healthy for their upbringing, that love is the right, more civilized way up bettering your child’s well-being. (Document 9)The families that do lose their children at a young age, some don’t grieve while other do so and more. Martin Luther, a Protestant reformer, wrote a letter to a friend on the death of his thirteen year old daughter, Magdalene, in Wittenberg, Germany, 1542. â€Å"The force of our natural love is so great that we are unable to refrain from crying and grieving in our hearts and experiencing death ourselves† Luther and his wife loved and cherished their daughter so greatly they were willin g to give up their own lives to let their â€Å"obedient and respectful† daughter, Magdalene, live on. (Document 2)Some upper class families whose children do live on, raise their children with the utmost care, the best education, and so forth. Christoph Scheurl, a Nuremburg jurist and diplomat, wrote annual notes to himself about his son Georg’s growth and progress, in Nuremburg, Germany, 1538. â€Å"He likes to learn, delights in it. He is now learning Donat and can already cite it from memory† â€Å"He knows where everything he puts between his teeth comes from† Christoph has raised his soon-to-be 6 years old son to appreciate what’s given to him, by showing him that the food that he eats is given to him by his father’s hard earned money. Christoph has also taught his son Donat, which is the Latin grammar of Donatus which is not something a lower class child would learn let alone read. (Document 1)Some of the population of early modern Eu rope would turn to cruelty when it came to raising their children. They viewed the young as nothing but insignificant beings. For example, King Henry IV wrote a letter to Madame de Montglat, the governess to his six year old son, Louis, in Paris, 1607. â€Å"I have a complaint to make: you do not send word that you have whipped my son. I wish and command you to whip him every time he is obstinate or misbehaves† King Henry IV makes this request to the governess because he wants his son to understand that doing a wrong will bring him consequences. Henry thinks he knows best because he was whipped as a child as well. (Document 8)The Domostroi, a Russian manual on household management written in Moscow, in the 1550s states that, â€Å"A man who loves his son will whip him often.. He who disciplines his son will find a profit in him† This document is stating that a man who whips his son, and one who gives him a good education, will make his son turn into a well-disciplined, understanding, humble man. Having a son like this, well give that father bragging rights among his friends. (Document 3)Jean Benedict, a Franciscan preacher, moralist, and professor of theology, writes A Summary of Sins, in Lyon, France, 1584. In this he writes, â€Å"It must be noted that the command of the father obligates the child to obey under pain of mortal sin† In this document, Benedict states that the feeling of performing sin should be enough pain and cruelty to makes the child feel his wrongdoings and repent his sins. (Document 7) In conclusion, in early modern Europe, various assumptions were made about children and how to raise them. Some families went with detachment, tender love, or cruelty. All of these assumptions, more or less, affected child-rearing practices.

Periodic Table of Elements Thorium Facts

Atomic Number: 90 Symbol: Th Atomic Weight: 232.0381 Discovery: Jons Jacob Berzelius 1828 (Sweden) Electron Configuration: [Rn] 6d2 7s2 Word Origin: Named for Thor, the Norse god of war and thunder Isotopes: All of the isotopes of thorium are unstable. The atomic masses range from 223 to 234. Th-232 occurs naturally, with a half-life of 1.41 x 1010 years. It is an alpha emitter that goes through six alpha and four beta decay steps to become the stable isotope Pb-208. Properties: Thorium has a melting point of 1750Â °C, boiling point ~4790Â °C, specific gravity of 11.72, with a valence of 4 and sometimes 2 or 3. Pure thorium metal is an air-stable silvery white which can retain its luster for months. Pure thorium is soft, very ductile, and capable of being drawn, swaged, and cold-rolled. Thorium is dimorphic, going from a cubic structure to a body-centered cubic structure at 1400Â °C. The melting point of thorium oxide is 3300Â °C, which is the highest melting point of the oxides. Thorium is attacked slowly by water. It does not readily dissolve in most acids, except hydrochloric acid. Thorium contaminated by its oxide will slowly tarnish to gray and finally black. The physical properties of the metal are highly dependent on the amount of oxide that is present. Powdered thorium is pyrophoric and must be handled with care. Heating thorium turnings in air will cause them to ignite and burn with a brilliant white light. Thorium disintegrates to p roduce radon gas, an alpha emitter and radiation hazard, so areas where thorium is stored or handled require good ventilation. Uses: Thorium is used as a nuclear power source. The internal heat of the earth is largely attributed to the presence of thorium and uranium. Thorium is also used for portable gas lights. Thorium is alloyed with magnesium to impart creep resistance and high strength at elevated temperatures. The low work function and high electron emission make thorium useful for coating tungsten wire used in electronic equipment. The oxide is used to make lab crucibles and glass with a low dispersion and high index of refraction. The oxide is also used as a catalyst in converting ammonia to nitric acid, in producing sulfuric acid, and in petroleum cracking. Sources: Thorium is found in thorite (ThSiO4) and thorianite (ThO2 UO2). Thorium may be recovered from monzonite, which contains 3-9% ThO2 associated with other rare earths. Thorium metal can be obtained by reducing thorium oxide with calcium, by reduction of thorium tetrachloride with an alkali metal, by electrolysis of anhydrous thorium chloride in a fused mixture of potassium and sodium chlorides, or by reduction of thorium tetrachloride with anhydrous zinc chloride. Element Classification: Radioactive Rare Earth (Actinide) Thorium Physical Data Density (g/cc): 11.78 Melting Point (K): 2028 Boiling Point (K): 5060 Appearance: gray, soft, malleable, ductile, radioactive metal Atomic Radius (pm): 180 Atomic Volume (cc/mol): 19.8 Covalent Radius (pm): 165 Ionic Radius: 102 (4e) Specific Heat (20Â °C J/g mol): 0.113 Fusion Heat (kJ/mol): 16.11 Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol): 513.7 Debye Temperature (K): 100.00 Pauling Negativity Number: 1.3 First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol): 670.4 Oxidation States: 4 Lattice Structure: Face-Centered Cubic Lattice Constant (Ã…): 5.080 References: Los Alamos National Laboratory (2001), Crescent Chemical Company (2001), Langes Handbook of Chemistry (1952), CRC Handbook of Chemistry Physics (18th Ed.)