Tungsten materials are typically described as which combination?

• A. Soft, ductile
• B. Medium, brittle
• C. Elastic, tough
• D. Hard, brittle

Answer: (D)

Hardness versus brittleness in metals. Tungsten has very strong atomic bonds and a dense crystal lattice, which makes it highly resistant to plastic deformation—that is, it’s very hard. At room temperature, however, its crystal structure limits how dislocations can move, so it tends to fracture rather than deform, giving it a brittle character. That combination—very hard, but not ductile or easily deformable—fits tungsten best. It’s not soft or ductile, and it isn’t primarily described as elastic and tough; those traits don’t match how tungsten behaves in typical conditions.