Thorium-234 is a radioactive isotope of thorium, a naturally occurring element. It has a half-life of about 24 days, meaning it takes this amount of time for half of a sample to decay. Thorium-234 is produced through the decay of uranium-238 and is part of the uranium-thorium decay series. As a decay product, thorium-234 eventually transforms into protactinium-234, which further decays into uranium-234. This isotope is of interest in nuclear science and environmental studies, as it helps researchers understand radioactive decay processes and the behavior of radioactive materials in nature.