Question

List the four categories of materials in the solar nebula by their condensation properties and abundance. Which ingredients are present in terrestrial planets? In jovian planets? In comets and asteroids? Explain why.

Answer 1

The four categories of materials in the solar nebula are metals and rock-forming silicates, sulfur compounds, carbon- and water-rich silicates, and ice and carbonaceous organic compounds. Terrestrial planets contain metals, rock-forming silicates, and some sulfur compounds, while Jovian planets are mostly composed of hydrogen and helium. Comets and asteroids have a mixture of rock-forming materials, carbon- and water-rich silicates, and ice.

Step-by-step explanation:

The four categories of materials in the solar nebula by their condensation properties and abundance are:

1. Metals and rock-forming silicates
2. Sulfur compounds
3. Carbon- and water-rich silicates
4. Ice and carbonaceous organic compounds

In terrestrial planets, we find metals, rock-forming silicates, and some sulfur compounds. Jovian planets, like Jupiter and Saturn, have a similar composition to the Sun and are mostly composed of hydrogen and helium. Comets and asteroids contain a mixture of rock-forming materials, carbon- and water-rich silicates, and ice.

The differences in material composition can be explained by the variation in temperatures at different distances from the Sun in the solar nebula. In the inner parts, where temperatures were higher, only metals and silicates could condense, while volatile materials like ice and carbonaceous compounds remained in the outer regions where it was cooler.