Which property is essential for a material to be classified as malleable?

For a material to be classified as malleable, it must possess the ability to be shaped without breaking. Malleability refers specifically to a material's capability to deform under compressive stress, allowing it to be rolled or hammered into thin sheets without cracking. This property is critical in applications where materials need to be formed into specific shapes, such as in metalworking processes.

When a material is malleable, it can undergo significant plastic deformation before fracture occurs, which means that it can be manipulated into various forms while maintaining its structural integrity. This distinct characteristic allows for a wide range of uses in manufacturing and construction, particularly in metals like gold, silver, and aluminum, which are commonly shaped into wires or sheets.

The other options—like the ability to resist breaking under stress, the ability to return to its original shape, and the ability to conduct electricity—represent different properties that may be associated with materials, but they do not specifically define malleability. Resistance to breaking could refer to toughness, elasticity concerns the ability to return to a shape after deformation, and conductivity relates to how well a material can transmit electricity. None of these properties encapsulate the essential feature of being able to mold or shape a material without it fracturing, which is