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Ductility

Ductility is the property of a metal by which it can be drawn into wires without breaking.

In one line: Wire means ductility; sheet means malleability.

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Understand it

Ductility is useful because many metals can stretch under controlled pulling and form long thin wires. Copper and aluminium are common examples used in electrical wiring. This property is different from malleability, which is about making sheets.

Example

Copper wire used in house wiring is made because copper is ductile.

Rule to remember

Rule: metals that can be drawn into wires are ductile; this is a physical property.

See it worked out

Follow the example line by line, then use the same method on new questions.

Worked example

  1. 1Copper is pulled through dies to make thin electrical wire.
  2. 2Since it becomes a long wire instead of a sheet, the metal is ductile.

Method you can reuse

  1. 1See whether the object becomes a wire.
  2. 2If yes, write ductility.
  3. 3If the object becomes a sheet, do not choose ductility.
  4. 4Add a suitable metal example if needed.

Visual tip

A sketch of a metal rod passing through smaller holes and becoming a wire helps fix the idea.

Check yourself

Answer the question in your head before opening the answer.

Try it yourself

A wire is made from a metal by pulling it through a narrow opening. Which property is being used?

Think first, then show answer
The metal is showing ductility because it can be drawn into a wire without breaking.

Common wrong answer

Malleability is the common wrong answer because students remember sheet and wire properties together but mix their meanings.

Don't mix this up

Students sometimes call every shape change malleability, even when the metal is being drawn into a wire.

Exam tip

If the question says wire, choose ductility.

Write it in the exam

Each point is worth about one mark. Write point 1 for a 1-mark question and keep adding points as the marks go up.

How CBSE asks it

The exam may ask for the property of metals used in making wires or may ask to distinguish ductility from malleability.
  1. 1

    Enough for 1 mark

    Ductility is the property of a metal by which it can be drawn into wires without breaking.

  2. 2

    Add for 2 marks

    Example: Copper wire used in house wiring is made because copper is ductile.

  3. 3

    Add for 3 marks

    Ductility is useful because many metals can stretch under controlled pulling and form long thin wires.

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