Question

Which of the two metals are most malleable?
A.Gold, Silver
B.Iron, Magnesium
C.Tungsten, Mercury
D.Aluminium, Copper

Answer 1

Hint: Malleability is a physical property that defines the ability of the metals to be rolled, hammered, pressed into thin sheets without breaking. The most malleable metals given in the options are precious metals and they are generally used in making jewellery.

Complete step by step answer:
- Malleability is the property of the materials to be deformed and take a new shape under compression. It is the state of being capable of being shaped by hammering, pressing and beating.

- Malleable materials have the ability to be flattened into thin sheets and can even be flattened into a metal leaf. Malleability is a property which is believed to be derived from non-localized metallic bonding.

- Malleability of a material and temperature are directly proportional to each other. It increases with the increase in temperature.

- The most malleable metals are gold and silver. An ounce of gold is capable of being drawn into a wire of more than 40 miles long. Gold and silver are too soft for making objects that should last long in their pure states. The purity and fineness of gold is measured in karat and the purity and fineness of silver is measured in percentage. A few micrometers thick sheets of pure silver are used in the sweet manufacturing industry, where it is used to cover the sweets.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A).

Note: As we know that pure gold is very soft and could be scratched right off. Because of this, it is unsuitable to use it in its pure state for coinage or jewellery. For these purposes, it's usually alloyed with other metals like silver, copper and zinc.