Which reason best explains why metals are malleable?

because they have delocalized electrons

because they have localized electrons

because they have ionic bonds

because they have rigid bonds

Answer: because they have delocalized electrons.

Delocalized electrons move freely from atom to atom forming what is known as a sea of electrons. This sea of electrons can absorb part of the impacts avoiding that the structure of the atoms be broken, so the mass of metal is re-shaped in contrast of what happen with the cristal structure of salts, for example.

The first one they have delocalized electrons