Which of the following materials is malleable and can be hammered into thin sheets?

Introduction / Context:
Malleability is a mechanical property of materials that describes the ability to be hammered or rolled into thin sheets without breaking. It is an important concept in metallurgy and materials science. This question asks you to recognise which of the listed substances is malleable, something that is often demonstrated when discussing metals versus brittle materials.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The property of interest is malleability.
• Options include ice, gold, stone, pottery, and glass.
• We assume normal conditions of temperature for these materials.
• We rely on basic classification of metals and non metals based on physical properties.

Concept / Approach:
Metals are generally malleable and ductile, meaning they can be shaped into sheets or drawn into wires. Non metallic solids like stone, pottery, glass, and ice tend to be brittle; they break when hammered rather than forming sheets. Gold is known as one of the most malleable metals, capable of being beaten into very thin gold leaf. Therefore, gold is the only option among the given materials that shows the required malleability.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that malleability refers to the ability to be hammered into sheets without cracking. Step 2: Metals such as gold, silver, and copper are classic examples of malleable materials. Step 3: Gold in particular is extremely malleable and can be beaten into leaf that is only a few atoms thick. Step 4: Ice is a crystalline solid that fractures rather than forming sheets when struck. Step 5: Stone, pottery, and glass are brittle; they shatter or chip when hammered rather than deforming plastically. Step 6: Therefore, among the given options, gold is the malleable material.

Verification / Alternative check:
Demonstrations in school often show a small piece of metal being hammered into a thinner sheet, while a piece of stone or glass breaks. Gold leaf used in decoration and art is a real world example of the extreme malleability of gold. In contrast, objects made of pottery or glass must be handled carefully because they chip or break easily, confirming their brittleness rather than malleability. This evidence supports selecting gold as the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Ice: Brittle at ordinary temperatures; it breaks into pieces rather than forming a thin sheet when hammered.
Stone: Hard but brittle; it fractures when struck, which shows low malleability.
Pottery: Ceramic material that cracks and breaks when hammered rather than bending.
Glass: Brittle and shatters under impact; it is not malleable and cannot be hammered into sheets.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to misinterpret malleability as simply being soft or easy to break, which may lead to selecting materials like ice. However, softness is different from the ability to deform plastically without breaking. Another pitfall is forgetting that metals have a set of characteristic physical properties, including malleability and ductility, while most non metallic solids do not. Always link malleability and ductility with metals when answering such questions.

Final Answer:
Gold is the malleable material that can be hammered into thin sheets.