After hot lava erupts from a volcano, what typically happens to it as it cools?

• A. It turns into sedimentary rock immediately.
• B. It dissolves in water to form a liquid solution.
• C. It evaporates completely into the atmosphere.
• D. It solidifies to form new igneous rock.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the context: Lava is molten rock that erupts from a volcano. It is in a liquid state due to the high temperatures inside the Earth's mantle.
2. Recognize the cooling process: When lava is exposed to the cooler temperatures of the Earth's surface, it begins to lose heat and solidify.
3. Identify the type of rock formed: As lava cools and solidifies, it forms igneous rock. This is a type of rock that originates from the cooling and crystallization of molten material.
4. Clarify why other options are incorrect: Sedimentary rock forms from the accumulation and compression of sediments, not from cooling lava. Lava does not dissolve in water to form a liquid solution, nor does it evaporate completely into the atmosphere.
5. Conclude the process: The correct answer is that lava solidifies to form new igneous rock, which is a fundamental part of the rock cycle in geology.