What describes the ability of a material to be shaped by compression, such as hammering or rolling?

• A. Ductility
• B. Toughness
• C. Hardness
• D. Malleability

Answer: (D)

Shaping a material by compression relies on malleability—the ability of a material to deform plastically when subjected to compressive forces, such as hammering or rolling. Under compression, the atoms and grains can rearrange and slide past one another without cracking, allowing permanent, shaped deformation into sheets or other forms. Ductility describes how a material can be drawn into wires under tensile stress, which is a different mode of deformation. Hardness is about resisting indentation, and toughness concerns how much energy a material can absorb before fracturing. So the property that best describes shaping by compression is malleability, with metals like gold and lead being highly malleable and brittle materials like glass having low malleability.