What happened to the first major atmosphere to develop on the early Earth, which consisted of hydrogen and helium?
A) The molecules reacted chemically with Earth's hot surface and were absorbed into the newly formed rocks.
B) The molecules were quickly absorbed into the ocean since they have high solubility in water.
C) The molecules combined chemically with one another to become molecules that were heavy enough for Earth's gravity to pull into the surface rocks, where they are now found.
D) The atmosphere drifted off into space as Earth's gravity was too weak to hold the light molecules of hydrogen and helium.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The first major atmosphere of Earth, consisting of hydrogen and helium, was lost to space because these light gases were not retained by Earth's relatively weak gravitational field, especially given the high temperatures and vigorous solar wind from the young Sun.

What Happened to the First Major Atmosphere to Develop on the Early