Ductility

What is Ductility?

The property of a material that allows it to be drawn out into a thin wire without snapping. In metals it has the same structural cause as malleability: layers of identical positive ions slide past one another while the delocalised electrons continue to bond the structure.

This definition is part of the Metals chapter in Cambridge O Level Chemistry.

Concepts related to Ductility

• drawing a wire
• copper wiring

Common mistakes with Ductility

• 2. “Malleable means it can be drawn into wires.” Repair Malleable = can be hammered or pressed into shape. Ductile = can be drawn out into a wire. Copper wiring needs ductility; aluminium foil needs malleability. Swapping them is a straight lost mark. Where Lesson 9.1A.
• 2. “Copper is malleable, which is why it is drawn into wires.” Defect The wrong one of the two words. Reason Malleable = hammered or pressed into shape. Ductile = drawn into a wire. Wires need ductility. Repair “Copper is ductile, so it can be drawn into thin wires.” Transfer Which word applies to aluminium cooking foil? Malleable — foil is rolled into a sheet.