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Composition of Earth's Elements

The Earth's crust is primarily composed of oxygen, silicon, aluminum and iron. Beneath the crust lies the mantle, which is predominantly composed of silicate minerals rich in magnesium and iron. The Earth's core is divided into two layers, with the outer core composed mainly of molten iron and nickel and the inner core composed of solid iron and nickel.

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126 views2 pages

Composition of Earth's Elements

The Earth's crust is primarily composed of oxygen, silicon, aluminum and iron. Beneath the crust lies the mantle, which is predominantly composed of silicate minerals rich in magnesium and iron. The Earth's core is divided into two layers, with the outer core composed mainly of molten iron and nickel and the inner core composed of solid iron and nickel.

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The Earth is composed of various elements, with the majority of its mass concentrated in just a

few key elements. Here's a breakdown of the elemental composition of Earth's crust, mantle, and
core:

**Earth's Crust:**
The Earth's crust is the outermost layer of the planet, ranging from about 5 to 70 kilometers in
thickness beneath the continents and oceans. It is primarily composed of the following elements:

1. **Oxygen (O):** Oxygen is the most abundant element in the Earth's crust, making up about
46.6% of its total mass. It combines with other elements to form silicate minerals, oxides, and
other compounds.

2. **Silicon (Si):** Silicon is the second most abundant element in the Earth's crust, constituting
approximately 27.7% of its mass. It forms the backbone of silicate minerals, which are the most
abundant minerals in the crust.

3. **Aluminum (Al):** Aluminum makes up around 8.1% of the Earth's crust. It is commonly
found in various silicate minerals and as oxides.

4. **Iron (Fe):** Iron is the fourth most abundant element in the Earth's crust, comprising about
5.0% of its mass. It is found in minerals such as hematite, magnetite, and various silicates.

5. **Calcium (Ca), Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), and others:** These
elements collectively make up the remaining percentage of the Earth's crust, typically in the form
of various minerals and compounds.

**Earth's Mantle:**
Beneath the crust lies the Earth's mantle, which extends to a depth of about 2,900 kilometers.
The mantle is predominantly composed of silicate minerals rich in magnesium and iron, with
smaller amounts of other elements such as aluminum, calcium, and sodium.
**Earth's Core:**
The Earth's core is divided into two main layers: the outer core and the inner core. The outer core
is primarily composed of molten iron and nickel, while the inner core is believed to consist
mainly of solid iron and nickel due to high pressure despite extremely high temperatures.

Overall, the Earth's elemental composition is dominated by oxygen and silicon in the crust, with
significant contributions from other elements such as aluminum, iron, calcium, and magnesium.
These elements play essential roles in shaping the planet's geology, chemistry, and overall
structure.

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