Steel is used in construction because of its high tensile and compressive strength resulting from the tightly packed iron and carbon atoms in its crystalline structure
Elasticity
Rubber, used in tires and seals, has a flexible polymer chain structure that allows it to stretch and return to its original shape
Brittleness
Ceramics, used in insulators and tiles are brittle because of the rigid ionic or covalent bonds. This makes them strong but prone to fracture under stress
