Why is the center of the earth molten iron and not heavier metals, such as gold?

Question

I would assume heavier molten metals would be in the center of the earth. Is it possible that the center has different molten metals on top of each other with a high concentration of iron on the outside of the core?

In: 2513

Answer 1

The center of the Earth is not molten iron. It is solid mostly-iron. There are many different elements present there – including both heavier and lighter ones – but iron is by far the most common one, so “iron core” is used as a common descriptor.

There is a layer of molten outer core wrapping the solid inner core. The solid part is about a thousand km thick and the liquid part is about another two thousand km thick.