Magma and lava...are they the same thing? The answer is yes and no (and you were worried this would be confusing!) They are physically the same (i.e. they have the same minerals, and are molten etc.) but they do not exist in the same environment. That's the key. That's why there are two words to describe it and not one. Magma refers to molten rock located underground. Think of magma chambers under volcanoes, or super hot melted rock in the mantle that creates "hot spots" like Hawaii or the Galapagos.
As soon as the molten magma reaches the surface however, it is called lava. Lava is expelled from a volcano, and can produce huge flows on the surface. It is molten for a short time, then hardens as it cools. If you are still confused please refer to the above figure for technical details, and further clarification. (Double click on image for larger view.)
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