What is the process of a material separating into multiple parts due to the disconnection of atomic or molecular bonds?

The process in which a material separates into multiple parts due to the disconnection of atomic or molecular bonds is known as fracture. This occurs when the internal forces that hold the material together are overcome, typically due to applied stress, which exceeds the material's strength. As a result, cracks or breaks develop, leading to the complete separation of different sections of the material. This can happen in various ways, such as through brittle fracture, where the material breaks suddenly without significant deformation, or ductile fracture, where some deformation occurs before the material ultimately separates.

Deformation refers to the change in shape or size of a material under stress but does not imply separation into parts. Melting involves a phase change from solid to liquid and does not involve the breaking of molecular bonds in a way that separates the material into distinct portions. Evaporation, on the other hand, is a process where liquid turns into vapor, which is unrelated to the separation of solid materials based on atomic or molecular bonds. Thus, fracture correctly describes the process wherein materials split apart due to the failure of internal bonding.