What metal property is characterized by the ability to easily shatter?

Brittleness is the metal property characterized by the tendency to shatter or break easily under stress rather than deforming. When a brittle material is subjected to a force, it does not undergo significant plastic deformation before fracture; instead, it may break suddenly. This property is crucial in applications where materials are subject to impact or sudden loads, as understanding brittleness helps engineers select appropriate materials for specific conditions.

In contrast, ductility refers to a material's ability to deform plastically before fracture, allowing it to be stretched into wires without breaking. Malleability describes a material's capacity to deform under compressive stress, such as being hammered into sheets, while toughness indicates a material's ability to absorb energy and deform plastically before fracturing. These properties are essential in engineering, but they do not convey the same likelihood of shattering as brittleness does.