Question

Which statement describes why malleability is a physical property?

a) It is a physical property because it changes the state of the substance.
b) It is a physical property because it changes only the substance's shape.
c) It is a physical property because it alters only the flammability of the substance.
d) It is a physical property because it rearranges the substance's molecules into a new substance.

Answer 1

Malleability is a physical property because it involves changing only a substance's shape without altering its chemical composition, such as when gold is hammered into thin sheets.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that describes why malleability is a physical property is that it changes only the substance's shape. Malleability is a measure of how easily a material can be hammered or rolled into thin sheets without breaking. It is a physical property because it involves a change in the physical shape or form of a substance rather than a change in composition.

When a metal, such as gold, is hammered into thin sheets, its appearance may change, but its chemical identity remains the same. Unlike chemical properties, which include the material's ability to burn or react with acids, physical properties like malleability do not involve the formation of a new substance.