Science Common Sense

1548 - What are the chemical compositions and physical states of the different layers of the solid Earth.

Let's break down the Earth's layers and their properties in simple terms:

1. Crust: The outermost layer, the crust, is made of rocks like granite and basalt. It's solid and has a thickness of about 5-70 kilometers. The crust is composed of oxygen, silicon, aluminum, and iron.

2. Mantle: Beneath the crust is the mantle, a thick layer that makes up 84% of the Earth's volume. The mantle is divided into the upper and lower mantle. The upper mantle is mostly solid and consists of silicate minerals, with a mix of oxygen, silicon, magnesium, iron, and aluminum. The lower mantle is also solid but much hotter, with a mix of iron, magnesium, and silicates.

3. Outer Core: The outer core is about 2,250 kilometers thick and is a liquid layer made mostly of iron (about 85%) and nickel. It's liquid because of its high temperature.

4. Inner Core: At the very center of the Earth is the inner core, which is about 1,220 kilometers thick. The inner core is solid and made mostly of iron and nickel, similar to the outer core. The high pressure keeps it solid despite its extremely high temperature.

Remember, these layers are just like a big layer cake with different ingredients and textures, but they all work together to form our amazing planet!