Final answer:
High carbon steel is used to make tools that resist wear and deformation because it's very hard due to its high carbon content. However, it is also more brittle, which makes it prone to fracturing under high stress. Special steels with additional alloying elements are made for specific industrial uses.
Step-by-step explanation:
Some tools are made of high carbon steel so that they resist wear and do not bend or break. High carbon steel contains up to about 1.5% of carbon, which makes it very hard and suited for cutting tools and masonry nails that need to maintain their shape under stress. Its hardness comes from the higher percentage of carbon, but this also makes it more brittle, meaning it can fracture rather than bend if subjected to high force or impact. Besides high carbon steel, there are special steels that are iron alloys with other metals such as manganese, chromium, nickel, tungsten, molybdenum, and vanadium, enhancing their properties for various industrial applications.