Why are metals malleable?
A. Because they reflect incoming photons
B. Because they are made of atoms that have tightly held electrons
C. Because of their structure and uniform bonding in all directions
D. Because their lattice energy is very high
I think the answer is c but I not certain.
I agree with c.
To determine why metals are malleable, we need to analyze the options given.
Option A states that metals are malleable because they reflect incoming photons. However, reflection of photons does not directly relate to the malleability of metals.
Option B suggests that metals are malleable due to atoms that have tightly held electrons. While tightly held electrons do contribute to the properties of metals, they are not the sole reason for malleability.
Option D claims that metals are malleable because their lattice energy is very high. However, lattice energy generally refers to the energy required to break the bond between ions in an ionic compound, and is not directly connected to malleability.
Option C states that metals are malleable because of their structure and uniform bonding in all directions. This is indeed the correct answer. Metals have a unique structure where the atoms are arranged in a "sea" of electrons, allowing for the uniform bonding in all directions. This arrangement gives metals their malleability, as the structure can be deformed without breaking the overall bond.
So, the correct answer is C - metals are malleable because of their structure and uniform bonding in all directions.