Which property is characteristic of metals?

Metals are known for their high malleability, which means they can be easily shaped or deformed without breaking. This property arises from the metallic bonding present in metals, where positively charged metal ions are surrounded by a sea of delocalized electrons. This allows layers of atoms to slide over each other when a force is applied, making metals capable of being hammered or rolled into thin sheets.

In contrast, poor conductivity of heat is not a characteristic of metals; they are generally excellent heat conductors. While some metals may have relatively low densities, many are quite dense, such as lead or gold. Additionally, although some metals react with water, not all do so quickly; this property is typically associated with a few alkali metals rather than metals as a whole. Thus, high malleability stands out as a defining and characteristic property of metals.