In the inner, hotter region of the protoplanetary disk, which materials primarily condense into solid particles?
Answer
Metals like iron and silicates
The protoplanetary disk exhibits a stark temperature gradient away from the central, forming star. In the inner regions, the heat generated by the central mass and accretion processes is intense. This extreme heat raises the condensation temperatures significantly. Consequently, volatile materials, such as water ice and frozen methane, cannot exist in a solid state; they remain gaseous. Only materials possessing very high melting points, specifically refractory materials like metals (such as iron) and silicates (which form rock), are capable of condensing out of the gas phase to form solid particles available for planet building in this hot environment.
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