Final answer:
Aluminum is malleable, which enables it to be made into foil. In the Take-Home Investigation, the density of aluminum allows it to sink in water, but the shape may cause it to float unless it is compacted properly. So the correct option is D.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristic of aluminum that allows it to be made into aluminum foil is its malleability. Malleable materials can be hammered or rolled into thin sheets without breaking. This property is important for the production of aluminum foil because it needs to be thin and flexible enough to wrap around objects easily.
When conducting the Making Connections: Take-Home Investigation, if you roll a piece of aluminum foil into a ball and drop it into the water, it may not sink due to the air trapped inside the ball and its shape that could cause it to float. Even though the density of aluminum is 2.7 times that of water, which would typically cause it to sink, the shape can influence its buoyancy. To make the ball of foil sink, you would have to compact it enough to expel the air and increase the density of the aluminum mass relative to water.