What is the Earth's core made of?

What is the Earth's core made of?

• A. Gases
• B. Solid iron
• C. Water
• D. Molten metal

Answer: (D)

Earth's core is metal, mainly iron (with some nickel), and it has two layers: a solid inner core and a liquid outer core. The outer part is molten because of the extreme temperatures, while the inner part stays solid under immense pressure. Because the core is composed of metal in a molten state for the part that drives many of its properties (like the geodynamo that generates Earth's magnetic field), describing it as molten metal best matches what the core is like overall. Gases and water aren’t present in significant amounts in the core, and while the inner core is solid iron, that doesn’t capture the state of the entire core.

Earth's core is metal, mainly iron (with some nickel), and it has two layers: a solid inner core and a liquid outer core. The outer part is molten because of the extreme temperatures, while the inner part stays solid under immense pressure. Because the core is composed of metal in a molten state for the part that drives many of its properties (like the geodynamo that generates Earth's magnetic field), describing it as molten metal best matches what the core is like overall. Gases and water aren’t present in significant amounts in the core, and while the inner core is solid iron, that doesn’t capture the state of the entire core.