A ceramic plate shatters when it is dropped, but an aluminium plate only dents.
Which explanation is correct?
The ceramic has weaker bonds than aluminium, so less energy is needed to break the ceramic apart
Aluminium has delocalised electrons that absorb the energy of the impact and turn it into heat
The ceramic is made of small molecules with only weak intermolecular forces between the molecules
Layers of ions in aluminium can slide without breaking the bonding; the ceramic's rigid lattice cracks
36 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Chemistry 10.5 Bulk and surface properties of matter including nanoparticles, covering 10.5.1 Nanoparticles: size, uses and risks and 10.5.2 Comparing and selecting materials. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.