The Large-Impact Hypothesis suggests that the Moon lost certain materials during its formation. What material is notably absent?

The Large-Impact Hypothesis posits that the Moon formed as a result of a massive collision between the early Earth and a Mars-sized body, commonly referred to as Theia. This colossal impact led to the ejection of debris that eventually coalesced to form the Moon. During this process, the extreme temperatures and conditions would have caused certain materials, particularly volatile substances, to be lost or evaporated.

Volatile substances are materials that have relatively low boiling points, such as water, carbon dioxide, and ammonia, which can easily escape into space when subjected to high heat. Due to the violent nature of the impact and the high-energy environment, these volatiles did not condense and remained absent from the Moon's composition.

In contrast, components such as silicate minerals, which are more stable at high temperatures, and metals, including iron that may have been present, are found in the Moon's crust. Similarly, while some iron-rich core material could have been involved in the formation of both Earth and the Moon, the materials that could not withstand the intense conditions of the impact remain notably absent, underscoring the significance of volatile loss in the Moon's development according to this hypothesis.