Malleability refers to what property?

Malleability is defined as the ability of a material, typically metals, to deform under compressive stress, which allows them to be shaped, formed, or rolled into thin sheets without breaking. This property is intrinsically linked to pliability, which describes how easily a material can bend or be shaped without fracturing.

Metals such as gold, silver, and copper exhibit high malleability, making them valuable in manufacturing processes where shaping the material is necessary, such as in jewelry making or metalworking. When a malleable substance is subjected to force, it does not shatter; instead, it gradually changes shape, showcasing its pliable characteristics. Other choices like brittleness, hardness, and transparency do not accurately capture this specific property of materials, emphasizing the importance of pliability in the context of malleability.