Final answer:
Mercury has a higher metal-to-silicate ratio compared to Earth, Venus, and Mars. The most likely models suggest that Mercury's interior consists of a metallic iron-nickel core making up 60% of its total mass, with the rest being primarily silicates. In contrast, Earth, Venus, and Mars have similar compositions, with one-third of their mass consisting of iron-nickel or iron-sulfur combinations and two-thirds made up of silicates.
Step-by-step explanation:
The composition of Mercury differs from that of Earth in terms of its density and proportions of metals and silicates. Mercury has a higher density of 5.4 g/cm³ compared to Earth and the Moon, indicating a larger proportion of metals. According to the most likely models, Mercury's interior consists of a metallic iron-nickel core comprising 60% of the total mass, with the rest of the planet primarily made up of silicates.
In contrast, Earth, Venus, and Mars have similar bulk compositions, with about one third of their mass consisting of iron-nickel or iron-sulfur combinations and two-thirds made of silicates. These planets are largely composed of oxygen compounds, such as the silicate minerals of their crusts, making their chemistry oxidized.
Therefore, while Mercury has a higher metal-to-silicate ratio, Earth, Venus, and Mars have similar compositions with more significant proportions of silicates.