Element charge lookup

What Is the Charge of Thorium?

Thorium commonly forms Th4+ in introductory ionic compounds.

Quick answer: Thorium usually has a common ionic charge of +4, written as Th4+.
ElementThorium
SymbolTh
Atomic number90
Common ionic charge+4
Common ionsTh4+

Why Thorium has this charge

Thorium is an actinide. Its chemistry can be specialized, but +4 is the most useful introductory reference range.

This is a classroom reference range, not an exhaustive list of all oxidation states.

Thorium charge examples

ThCl4

Thorium chloride

Th4+ balances chloride ions.

Th2O3

Thorium oxide

Thorium can form oxides where total positive and negative charge balances.

FAQ

Is Thorium charge the same as oxidation state?

Ionic charge is the charge on an actual ion. Oxidation state is a bookkeeping number used inside compounds. They can match, but they are not always the same thing.

How do I use this in formulas?

Combine positive and negative ions so the total charge is zero. You can also use the ionic compound calculator.

Sources and data notes

More element charges