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Planetary core
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===Determining primary composition β Earth=== Using the chondritic reference model and combining known compositions of the [[Crust (geology)|crust]] and [[Mantle (geology)|mantle]], the unknown component, the composition of the inner and outer core, can be determined: 85% Fe, 5% Ni, 0.9% Cr, 0.25% Co, and all other [[refractory metal]]s at very low concentration.<ref name="Wood, Walter and Jonathan 2006" /> This leaves Earth's core with a 5β10% weight deficit for the outer core,<ref name="McDonough 2003">{{cite journal |last=McDonough |first=W. F. |title=Compositional Model for the Earth's Core |journal=Geochemistry of the Mantle and Core |location=Maryland |date=2003 |publisher=University of Maryland Geology Department |pages=547β568 }}</ref> and a 4β5% weight deficit for the inner core;<ref name="McDonough 2003" /> which is attributed to lighter elements that should be cosmically abundant and are iron-soluble; H, O, C, S, P, and Si.<ref name="Wood, Walter and Jonathan 2006"/> Earth's core contains half the Earth's [[vanadium]] and [[chromium]], and may contain considerable [[niobium]] and [[tantalum]].<ref name="McDonough 2003" /> Earth's core is depleted in [[germanium]] and [[gallium]].<ref name="McDonough 2003" />
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