Final answer:
The correct answer is C. Brittle, as nonmetals are characterized by their lack of ductility and malleability, making them break easily when deformed.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nonmetals are characterized by being brittle when in solid form, and thus, they break easily. Nonmetals are not ductile, meaning they cannot be drawn into wires, nor are they malleable, so they cannot be molded or hammered into thin sheets. Therefore, the correct answer to the question "Nonmetals are ____ (they break easily)." is C. Brittle.
While metals typically conduct electricity and heat well, being both ductile and malleable, nonmetals do not share these properties. Instead, nonmetals like sulfur (S), phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N), and oxygen (O) are poor conductors of heat and electricity, and they cannot be deformed into wires or sheets without breaking. As such, solid nonmetals are generally brittle and poor electrical conductors, distinguishing them from their metallic counterparts.