Final answer:
Titanium's hexagonal close-packed structure and strong metallic bonding contribute to its high melting point and malleability. Its ability to be hammered into various shapes without losing strength is due to the uniformity of its metallic bonds.
Step-by-step explanation:
The crystal structure shown by titanium is similar to that of magnesium, which means titanium has a hexagonal close-packed (hcp) structure. This structure contributes to its high melting point and malleability.
Titanium has a high melting point because of the strong metallic bonding between titanium atoms. This metallic bond consists of a 'sea' of delocalized electrons that are free to move throughout the structure, binding the positively charged metal ions together with strong electrostatic forces. The energy required to break these bonds and hence melt the metal is quite high.
Titanium can be hammered into different shapes because it is malleable. This property stems from its metallic crystal structure that can withstand deformation without breaking. When hammered, the layers of atoms can slide over one another but remain intact due to metallic bonding.
The similar strengths of objects shaped from titanium can be attributed to the uniformity of the metallic bonds in the material. Regardless of the object's shape, the same strong metallic bonds are present throughout, contributing to consistent strength.