Beaten flat, or pulled into a wire
One hard hammer blow. A metal spreads. A lump of coal shatters into pieces.
Step 1 of 3
- Two blocks, same size. One hammer over each.
- The copper spreads flat. The coal breaks into pieces.
- Copper is malleable. Coal is brittle.
Two new words
- Malleable — spreads flat under a blow, instead of breaking.
- Ductile — can be pulled out into a long thin wire.
A brittle thing breaks into pieces under a blow.
The rule
Most metals spread under a blow and draw into wire. A brittle lump shatters.
Aluminium is beaten into thin foil. Copper is drawn into wire. Coal, sulfur (a yellow solid) and glass shatter.
Watch out!
Hard does not mean brittle. Steel is hard, yet it rolls flat into sheets.
Now try it. Slide up the blow. Watch copper and coal.
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