Cite one reason why ceramic materials are, in general, harder yet more brittle than metals.

Question: Explain one reason why ceramic materials tend to be harder yet more brittle than metals, considering their atomic structure and bonding. Answer: One reason why ceramic materials are harder yet more brittle than metals is due to their strong and directional ionic or covalent bonds. These bonds form a rigid and strongly bonded structure, which results in higher resistance to deformation as the individual atoms or ions find it more difficult to slide past each other, contributing to higher hardness. However, the same strong and rigid bonding structure also makes ceramics more brittle, as their bonds are less flexible and more prone to breaking under stress, limiting their ability to deform plastically before fracturing. In contrast, metals have non-directional and more flexible metallic bonds, allowing them to deform plastically, making them less brittle and more ductile compared to ceramic materials.