Beat it flat

The idea

Malleability is the property by which materials can be beaten into thin sheets; most metals are malleable, gold and silver being the most malleable.

Anandi's question

Sudarshan uncle heats a block of iron until it is red hot and beats it with a hammer to shape an axe. Anandi asks, "Can we do this with other metals too?"

What do you think? Can other metals also be beaten flat?

• Yes, most metals can be
• No, only iron can
• No metal except iron can

Hammer time

Five lumps of the same size. Hit each one three times. First guess, then watch.

Malleable

Malleability is the property by which materials can be beaten into thin sheets. Most metals are malleable. Gold and silver are the most malleable metals.

The thin silver foil on some sweets and the aluminium foil that wraps food are made possible by malleability.

• Metal | After three hits
• Gold, silver | spread the most: the most malleable
• Copper, aluminium, iron | also flatten into thin sheets

Notes

Malleability: materials can be beaten into thin sheets. Most metals are malleable; gold and silver the most.

Check yourself

The property by which materials can be beaten into thin sheets is called...

Which two metals are the most malleable?

Thin silver foil can be put on sweets because silver is...

Sudarshan beats red-hot iron into the flat shape of an axe. Which property of iron lets him do this?

• ductility. Ductility is being drawn into wires.
• malleability — correct. Yes! Malleable materials can be beaten into thin sheets.
• sonority. Sonority is the ringing sound of metals.
• Iron and copper. They are malleable, but not the most.
• Gold and silver — correct. Yes! They spread the most under the hammer.
• Aluminium and iron. They are malleable, but not the most.
• malleable — correct. Yes! It can be beaten into very thin sheets.
• brittle. Brittle things break into pieces when beaten.
• sonorous. Sonorous means it makes a ringing sound. That does not make foil.
• Iron is malleable — correct. Yes! It flattens when beaten.
• Iron is brittle. A brittle thing would break into pieces.
• Iron is a liquid. Iron is a solid.