We all know oxygen is vital for life, but is it the most common element on our planet? The answer depends on where you look! If we focus ...
We all know oxygen is vital for life, but is it the most common element on our planet? The answer depends on where you look!
- If we focus on Earth's crust, the thin layer we walk on, oxygen takes the crown. Clocking in at around 46.6%, it forms oxides in minerals like sand (silicon dioxide) and limestone (calcium carbonate).
- Silicon snags the second-place trophy at 27.7%. Together, these two elements are the rock stars of the crust!
- But when we consider Earth's entire body, including the super-hot core and the vast mantle, iron muscles its way to the top spot. It's estimated to make up a whopping 32.1% of Earth's mass, likely a result of the early solar system's makeup.
- Oxygen stays strong in second place at 30.1%.
So Why the Difference?
Earth's layers are like cosmic zones with different compositions. Denser elements like iron sank towards the core during the planet's formation, while lighter elements like oxygen concentrated in the crust.
Oxygen rules the crust, but iron reigns supreme for the whole planet.
