Question

The second largest planet in the solar system, Saturn is a massive ball made of

• A. xenon and radon
• B. hydrogen and nitrogen
• C. helium and neon
• D. hydrogen and helium

Hint:

Just remember that the Sun and the Gas Giants (Jupiter and Saturn) share the same basic recipe: a huge amount of Hydrogen and a smaller portion of Helium.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Concept: The solar system's planets are divided into "Terrestrial" (rocky) and "Jovian" (gas giants). Saturn belongs to the gas giant category, meaning it lacks a well-defined solid surface and is composed primarily of the same elements that make up stars.

Step 1: The Composition of Gas Giants.
Saturn, like Jupiter, is made almost entirely of the two lightest elements in the periodic table. These elements were present in the solar nebula from which the planets formed. The approximate breakdown is: $\text{Hydrogen} \approx 96\%$
$\text{Helium} \approx 3\%$
$\text{Trace Elements} \approx 1\%$

Step 2: Internal Structure.
Deep inside Saturn, the intense pressure turns the hydrogen into a liquid metallic state, which is responsible for the planet's powerful magnetic field. The helium is also present throughout the interior, sometimes falling as "helium rain" through the lighter hydrogen layers.

Step 3: Evaluating the options.
While other gases like methane, ammonia, and nitrogen exist in trace amounts in the atmosphere, they do not constitute the "massive ball" of the planet. Heavy noble gases like xenon or radon (Option A) are extremely rare in the solar system and do not form the bulk of any planet. Final Answer: Option D