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Thallium: meaning, definitions and examples

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thallium

 

[ ˈθæliəm ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

chemical element

Thallium is a soft, malleable, blue-grey metal that is a member of group 13 in the periodic table. It is known for its high density and low melting point. Thallium has applications in electronics and optics, but it is also highly toxic and can be harmful to humans.

Synonyms

Tl, thallicum

Examples of usage

  • Thallium is used in some types of infrared detectors.
  • The toxicity of thallium makes it a subject of environmental concern.
  • Thallium can be used for producing special glass.

Translations

Translations of the word "thallium" in other languages:

🇵🇹 tálio

🇮🇳 थैलियम

🇩🇪 Thallium

🇮🇩 thallium

🇺🇦 таллій

🇵🇱 tal

🇯🇵 タリウム

🇫🇷 thalium

🇪🇸 talio

🇹🇷 talyum

🇰🇷 탈륨

🇸🇦 ثاليوم

🇨🇿 thallium

🇸🇰 thalium

🇨🇳 铊

🇸🇮 talij

🇮🇸 thalíum

🇰🇿 талий

🇬🇪 თალიუმი

🇦🇿 talyum

🇲🇽 talio

Etymology

The name thallium comes from the Greek word 'thallos', meaning 'green shoot' or 'twig'. This reference is due to the bright green spectral line emitted by the element when it is vaporized. Thallium was discovered in 1861 by English chemist William Crookes during his work on the properties of the newly developed spectroscope. Crookes first identified thallium as part of a method to isolate the element from other substances. The element was originally used in various industrial applications, but its high toxicity led to its limited use in certain products over time, especially in consumer goods. As understanding of its health risks grew, there was a shift towards finding safer alternatives.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #22,047, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.