When molten magma from inside the Earth reaches the surface and then solidifies, what is it called?

Introduction / Context:
This question explores basic geology by asking what magma is called after it reaches the Earth surface and solidifies. Understanding this term helps students follow descriptions of volcanic eruptions, igneous rocks and the rock cycle. In many geography and science exams, the distinction between magma and lava is a common test point. Correctly identifying the term lava shows that a learner can connect interior processes of the Earth with observable surface features like lava flows and volcanic cones.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Magma is molten rock beneath the Earth surface.
• The question asks what this material is called once it reaches the surface and then solidifies.
• Options are granite, lava, quartz and silicates.
• We assume a basic rock cycle understanding taught at school level.

Concept / Approach:
Magma refers to molten rock stored in the mantle or crust beneath the surface. When this material erupts through a volcano or fissure and emerges at the surface, it is called lava. As the lava cools, it solidifies to form various types of igneous rocks. Granite is an example of an intrusive igneous rock that forms from magma cooling slowly inside the Earth, not necessarily from surface flows. Quartz is a mineral, and silicates refer to a broad class of minerals containing silicon and oxygen. Therefore lava is the correct term for molten rock at the surface, while magma is the term used for molten rock below the surface.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that magma is molten rock beneath the Earth crust. Step 2: Remember that when this molten rock emerges from a volcano or fissure, it is referred to as lava. Step 3: Consider that as lava cools, it can form solid igneous rocks such as basalt or obsidian. Step 4: Recognise that granite, while igneous, is an intrusive rock that forms inside the Earth rather than a general name for erupted molten material. Step 5: Conclude that the correct term for magma that reaches the surface and solidifies is lava.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, think of images and videos of volcanic eruptions showing bright red or orange molten material flowing down slopes. Commentators and textbooks consistently call this lava, not magma. In diagrams of the rock cycle, magma is shown beneath the crust, and arrows indicate that once magma erupts it becomes lava at the surface. As lava cools, the diagram then shows formation of extrusive igneous rocks. None of these materials are labelled granite or quartz in a general sense. This consistent use of terms across teaching materials confirms that lava is the correct word after magma reaches the surface.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Granite is a specific type of intrusive igneous rock that forms when magma cools slowly underground, but it is not the general name for molten material at the surface.
Quartz is a mineral composed of silicon and oxygen and can appear in many types of rocks, but it is not the name given to erupted molten rock.
Silicates describe a group of minerals containing silicon and oxygen, and the term is too broad to identify the molten rock once it reaches the surface.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes confuse magma and lava by using the words interchangeably, which can lead to mistakes in questions that require precise definitions. Another error is thinking that any igneous rock name, such as granite, can be used to describe molten material, even though these names apply to solid rocks after cooling. To avoid confusion, remember the simple rule: magma is below the surface, and lava is above the surface after eruption. Repeating this pair of words and their positions in the Earth helps fix the concept clearly in memory.

Final Answer:
When magma reaches the Earth surface and then solidifies, it is called lava.