Which statement correctly identifies the major layers of Earth's interior and their primary characteristics?

Which statement correctly identifies the major layers of Earth's interior and their primary characteristics?

• A. The crust is the thickest layer; the mantle is completely rigid; the core is gaseous.
• B. The crust is a thick dense layer; the mantle is partly molten; the core is metallic but not iron-nickel.
• C. The crust is the thin outer shell; the mantle has a rigid upper part and a ductile lower part with convection; the outer core is liquid iron-nickel and the inner core is solid iron-nickel.
• D. The crust is the deepest layer; the mantle generates the magnetic field; the core is an icy shell.

Answer: (C)