In materials science, which of the following substances can be beaten and converted into thin sheets, demonstrating the property of malleability?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your understanding of the mechanical property called malleability, which is the ability of a material to be beaten or hammered into thin sheets. Malleability is a characteristic property of many metals and is widely discussed in basic chemistry and materials science. Recognizing which substances can be shaped in this way helps you distinguish metals from nonmetals and gases. The question asks you to identify, among the options given, the substance that can be beaten into thin sheets, thereby demonstrating malleability.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- You are asked to choose the substance that can be hammered into thin sheets.
- Options include zinc, phosphorus, sulphur, and oxygen.
- It is assumed that you know which of these are metals, nonmetals, or gases.
- Malleability is associated primarily with metallic elements and certain alloys.

Concept / Approach:
Malleability is a key property of metals, allowing them to be hammered or rolled into thin sheets without breaking. Zinc is a metallic element that exhibits malleability, especially at suitable temperatures. Phosphorus and sulphur are nonmetals that are brittle in solid form and break rather than form sheets when hammered. Oxygen is a diatomic gas under normal conditions and therefore cannot be beaten into thin sheets. The approach is to identify which option is a metal and then relate that metal to the property of malleability.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that malleability is the property that allows a substance to be hammered into thin sheets. Step 2: Identify which of the given substances is a metal. Zinc is a metal, whereas phosphorus and sulphur are nonmetals and oxygen is a gas. Step 3: Remember that metals are generally malleable due to the nature of metallic bonding and the ability of metal ions to slide over each other without breaking the structure. Step 4: Note that solid nonmetals like phosphorus and sulphur are brittle and would shatter or crumble if hammered. Step 5: Understand that a gas like oxygen has no fixed shape or volume and cannot be beaten into sheets at ordinary conditions. Step 6: Conclude that zinc, being a metal, can be beaten into thin sheets, so Zinc is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by reviewing basic properties of metals and nonmetals in introductory chemistry textbooks. Lists of typical metal properties include malleability and ductility, while nonmetals are often described as brittle when solid. Zinc is mentioned among metals used in galvanisation and alloy formation, which involve shaping and rolling processes. In contrast, phosphorus and sulphur are not used in sheet form due to their brittleness, and oxygen is always discussed as a gas. This comparison confirms that zinc exhibits malleability and can be beaten into thin sheets.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Phosphorus is a nonmetal that exists in forms such as white and red phosphorus, which are brittle and not suitable for hammering into sheets. Sulphur is also a brittle nonmetal that breaks easily and does not show malleability. Oxygen is a diatomic gas at room temperature and pressure and cannot be shaped into solid sheets under ordinary conditions. None of these substances demonstrate the property of malleability in the way metals do, so they are incorrect answers in this context.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students may choose sulphur or phosphorus because they are familiar nonmetals and may not think carefully about their physical properties. Others may not recall that oxygen is a gas and therefore cannot be malleable in the usual sense. To avoid such mistakes, always associate malleability with metals and brittleness with solid nonmetals, and remember that gases obviously cannot be hammered into sheets under normal circumstances.

Final Answer:
The substance that can be beaten and converted into thin sheets is Zinc.