During differentiation, what happens to heavier, denser metals?

• A. Heavier, denser metals sink to the center to form the core, while lighter materials form the mantle
• B. These metals rise to form the crust
• C. The metals are ejected into space
• D. The metals remain uniformly distributed

Answer: (A)

Density-driven separation during planetary differentiation occurs when a hot, partially molten body allows materials to move under gravity. Heavier, denser metals such as iron and nickel sink toward the center, forming the metallic core, while lighter silicate materials rise to form the mantle and crust. This explains why heavier metals end up at the center and lighter materials make up the outer layers. The other scenarios—metals rising to form the crust, being ejected into space, or staying uniformly distributed—don’t align with how gravity and density differences drive the layering of a differentiating body.