What property describes metals that can bend, stretch, or form without breaking?

The correct answer is related to the property known as ductility. Ductility refers to a material's ability to deform under tensile stress, which means it can be stretched or bent without breaking. This characteristic is particularly important in applications where metals must be formed into various shapes, such as in wire drawing or metal forming processes. Ductile materials can absorb energy and undergo significant plastic deformation before fracture occurs, making them suitable for applications where flexibility and shape change are required.

In contrast, hardness refers to a material's resistance to deformation, especially indentation or scratching, and does not imply the ability to bend or stretch. Strength, which indicates the maximum load a material can withstand before failing, does not directly relate to its ability to undergo deformation. Brittleness describes a material's tendency to break or shatter upon application of stress, which is contrary to the property of ductility. Therefore, the focus on ductility as a measure of a material's capability to bend and stretch without breaking is what makes this the correct choice.