what is the difference between magma and lava?

Magma and lava are both molten rock, but the key difference is where they are found: magma is molten rock beneath Earth’s surface, while lava is the same molten rock once it has erupted and is on the surface.

Core difference

• Magma: Molten rock stored underground in chambers within Earth’s crust or upper mantle.

• Lava: The same molten rock after it erupts or flows out onto the surface through a volcano or fissure.

Other small differences

• Cooling:
  • Magma cools slowly underground, forming coarse‑grained igneous rocks with larger crystals.

* Lava cools quickly at the surface, forming fine‑grained rocks like basalt.

• Gases:
  • Magma usually contains more dissolved gases because it is under higher pressure deep underground.

* Once it erupts as lava, much of that gas escapes into the air, so lava is relatively degassed molten rock.

Simple way to remember

• “Magma is inside , lava is outside ” the Earth.