The hardness of steel primarily depends on

A. Percentage of carbon

B. Percentage of alloying elements

C. Heat treatment employed

D. Shape of carbides and their distribution in iron

Answer: Option D

Solution(By Examveda Team)

carbon is the most important commercial steel alloy.
Increasing carbon content increases hardness and strength and improves hardenability.
But carbon also increases brittleness and reduces weldability because of its tendency to form martensite.