What type of property is flexibility in metals related to?

Flexibility in metals is primarily related to ductility. Ductility refers to a metal's ability to deform under tensile stress, which is the capacity to stretch or bend without breaking. This property allows a material to be drawn into wires or molded into various shapes, demonstrating that it can adapt to different forms without failing.

When a metal is flexible, it can bend and reshape itself, indicating a high level of ductility. This flexibility is critical in many applications where materials must withstand forces and deformations without cracking or breaking. Ductile materials tend to absorb energy and deform plastically, which is essential in structural applications where resilience is required.

In contrast, tenacity refers to a material's ability to withstand pulling or shearing forces, hardness measures a material's resistance to deformation and scratching, and brittleness describes a material's tendency to fracture rather than deform when subjected to stress. Understanding the properties of metals, including their ductility, is crucial in selecting materials for specific applications in welding and fabrication.