Final answer:
Metals are malleable, meaning they can be hammered into shapes without breaking, and ductile, meaning they can be drawn into wires. These properties arise from the free-flowing electrons that prevent cations within the metal's structure from coming into close contact.
Step-by-step explanation:
This property allows metals to be hammered into thin sheets or shaped without breaking. Unlike ionic compounds, which are brittle and tend to shatter when force is applied, the free-flowing electrons in metals can slip between the cations and prevent them from coming into contact, akin to ball bearings coated with oil sliding past one another. Moreover, metals are ductile, indicating they can also be drawn into thin wires, such as copper. Being good conductors of heat and electricity and generally solid at room temperature (mercury being an exception), metals are versatile materials used in various applications, reflecting their malleability and ductility.