What is lava? How hot is it? Information on the molten rock that comes from volcanoes

Volcanos are releasing ash and smoke into the atmosphere on three continents. That might be making you think back to your elementary school science class when you probably studied volcanoes and lava.

Lava is the form of magma, or molten or semi-molten rock, that erupts to the surface, such as via a volcano or through a crust fracture.

We all know lava is pretty hot, but exactly how hot is lava? Here's what to know about the molten rock's temperatures.

How hot is lava? 

Lava's temperature can range between 1,300 to 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit.

For example, lava traveling through a Hawaiian volcano's tubes, or underground passageways, is about 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the United States Geological Survey.

Additionally, depending on rock type, lava's temperature ranges. According to Oregon State University, these are the temperatures of common lava types:

• Rhyolitic lava: 1292 to 1652 degrees Fahrenheit
• Dacite lava: 1472 to 2012 degrees Fahrenheit
• Andesite lava: 1742 to 2192 degrees Fahrenheit
• Basalt lava: 1832 to 2282 degrees Fahrenheit

More:Volcanoes are erupting, spewing ash on these three continents

What is lava made of?

Lava is made of crystals, volcanic glass and bubbles (also known as volcanic gases), according to Oregon State University.

Lava forms when magma erupts. When magma becomes too much to handle, gases will not be able to exit the landform. This leads pressure to build up and will eventually cause an explosion of gas and lava, according to the USGS.

As for its chemical makeup, lava contains silicon, oxygen, aluminum, iron, magnesium, calcium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus and titanium, as well as small amounts of other elements.

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What is magma?

Magma is extremely hot molten or semi-molten rock found under the Earth's surface, according to National Geographic. A majority of Earth's magma is found in the mantle, or layer between the core and crust.

When magma erupts or flows from the Earth, it is then called lava.

There are three types of magma, according to National Geographic:

• Basaltic
• Andesitic
• Rhyolitic

Each form has its own mineral composition, but magma is also made of "small amounts of dissolved gases such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, and sulfur," according to National Geographic.

Can you touch lava?

You should not touch lava. If your skin comes in contact with lava, you would get severely burned.

When you make contact with temperatures, the severity of your injuries depends on how long you touch it and how hot it is.

According to the National Institute for Standards and Technology, you will begin to feel pain at a temperature of 111 degrees Fahrenheit. You would sustain first-degree burns at a temperature of 118 degrees. At a temperature of 162 degrees, your skin tissue would be "instantly destroyed."

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