Earth's core, the planet's innermost layer, is primarily composed of iron and nickel. Both the inner and outer cores consist mostly of these metals, existing in extremely hot conditions with temperatures ranging from 7200–9000℉ (4000–5000℃).
Earth's Core Composition: A Deeper Dive
The core is divided into two main parts:
- Inner Core: A solid ball with a radius of approximately 1,220 km (760 mi). Its iron-nickel alloy composition is denser than the surrounding materials, causing it to sink to the Earth's center.
- Outer Core: A liquid layer surrounding the inner core. Like the inner core, it's primarily made of iron and nickel, but its liquid state contributes to Earth's magnetic field.
This iron-nickel composition is determined through various scientific methods, including analyzing seismic wave data and studying meteorites, which offer clues to the early solar system's composition and Earth's formation. Iron is the heaviest element readily formed by stellar nucleosynthesis, meaning it's abundant in the universe and likely dominated during Earth's formation.
It's important to note that while iron and nickel are the dominant components, trace amounts of other elements may also be present in the core.
