Question

Malleability refers to:

a. The ability of a metal to be hammered or rolled.
b. The ability of a metal to withstand a great amount of pressure.
c. The ability of a metal to withstand impact
d. The ability of a metal to be stretched.

Answer 1

Malleability is the ability of a metal to be hammered or rolled into thin sheets without breaking, a property allowing metals to be formed into various shapes and sizes for construction and manufacturing.

Step-by-step explanation:

Malleability refers to the ability of a metal to be hammered or rolled into thin sheets without breaking. This property is crucial in construction and manufacturing because it allows metals to be formed into various shapes and sizes. Unlike ionic compounds, which are brittle and can shatter when pressure is applied, metals are malleable due to the presence of free-flowing electrons that can slip between cations, preventing them from coming into contact and shattering. Metallic bonding, which involves the sharing of valence electrons among atoms, gives metals their malleability and other characteristic properties such as ductility, conductivity, and luster.