Chemical Differentiation of Planets: A Core Issue

Abstract By plotting empirical chemical element abundances on Earth relative to the Sun and normalized silicon versus their first ionization potentials, we confirm existence of a correlation reported earlier. To explain this, develop model based principles statistical physics that predicts differentiated for any planetary body in solar system as function its orbital distance. This simple is successfully tested against available composition data from CI chondrites surface compositional Mars, Earth, Moon, Venus, Mercury. We show, moreover, deviations proposed law given planet correspond later segregation elements driven both by gravity reactions. thus provide new picture distribution inside planets, with important consequences composition. Particularly, 4 wt% initial hydrogen content predicted bulk early Earth. converges other works suggesting interior could be enriched hydrogen.