The property of metals that allows them to be beaten or hammered into thin sheets is known as what?

Introduction / Context:
This question checks your understanding of basic mechanical properties of metals, which are commonly introduced in school chemistry and physics. Metals have characteristic properties such as malleability and ductility that make them useful for shaping into various forms. Being able to match these property names with their definitions is essential for interpreting everyday uses of materials like aluminium foil and metal wires.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The specific behaviour described is that metals can be beaten or hammered into thin sheets.
• Options include ductility, malleability, viscosity, tensile strength and elasticity.
• We assume standard textbook definitions of these mechanical properties.
• Examples include gold leaf, aluminium foil and metal sheets for construction.

Concept / Approach:
Malleability is defined as the property of a material, especially metals, to be hammered or rolled into thin sheets without breaking or cracking. Ductility, by contrast, refers to the ability to be drawn into thin wires. Viscosity describes resistance to flow in liquids, tensile strength measures resistance to being pulled apart and elasticity refers to the ability to return to original shape after deformation. Thus, the word that specifically matches the ability to form sheets is malleability.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the behaviour described: a metal can be beaten or hammered into thin sheets. Step 2: Recall that malleability is the property that allows metals to be hammered or rolled into sheets. Step 3: Note that ductility refers to drawing metals into wires, which is a different process involving tension rather than compression or hammering. Step 4: Viscosity applies mainly to fluids and describes thickness or resistance to flow, not shaping into sheets. Step 5: Tensile strength measures how much pulling force a material can withstand before breaking, which is related but not the same as the ability to form sheets. Step 6: Elasticity concerns the ability to return to original shape after deforming, such as in springs, and is not specific to sheet formation. Step 7: Therefore, the property described in the question is malleability.

Verification / Alternative check:
Examples in textbooks and everyday life support this definition. Gold is extremely malleable and can be beaten into very thin leaves used for decoration and jewellery. Aluminium is malleable enough to be rolled into thin foil for food packaging. Copper and steel are rolled into sheets for roofing, containers and structural parts. These applications all rely on the malleability of metals. In contrast, drawing copper into electrical wires relies on ductility, another property often mentioned alongside malleability. Remembering these paired examples helps verify the correct meanings.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Ductility involves pulling a metal into wires and is often associated with tensile forces rather than hammering or rolling. Viscosity has nothing to do with solid metals; it is a property of liquids such as honey or oil. Tensile strength is a mechanical parameter that describes how much tensile stress a material can bear, which may influence ductility but does not define the ability to form sheets. Elasticity is a general property for metals, polymers and other materials but does not specifically refer to sheet formation. None of these terms match the definition given in the question as precisely as malleability does.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often confuse malleability and ductility because they are usually taught together as properties of metals. A practical way to distinguish them is to remember that malleability relates to making sheets (think of aluminium foil), while ductility relates to making wires (think of copper wire). Writing the first letters S for sheets and W for wires next to M (malleability) and D (ductility) in your notes can help cement the difference. Being clear on these definitions will help you answer similar questions quickly and accurately.

Final Answer:
The property of metals that allows them to be beaten into thin sheets is called malleability.