Which of the following describes ductility?

Study for the ALEKS Placement Chemistry Exam. Review flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready for your chemistry exam!

Ductility is a property primarily associated with metals, and it refers to the ability of a material to be stretched or drawn into a wire without breaking. This characteristic is a result of the metallic bonding present in metals, allowing their atoms to slide past one another when force is applied, which is essential during the wire-drawing process. When a metal is ductile, it can undergo significant deformation before fracturing, making it suitable for applications where wires are required, such as electrical wiring and various construction materials.

The other options do not pertain to ductility. The ability to gain electrons describes a different chemical property related to reactivity and electronegativity, not ductility. The shininess of a material is related to its luster and how it interacts with light, which is more about surface properties than its ability to deform. The ability to conduct electricity is indeed a property of many metals, but this characteristic reflects the movement of electric charge rather than the physical manipulation of the material into a wire form. Thus, the definition of ductility is captured accurately by the ability to be pulled into wire.

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