Answer:
The correct answer is (a) Ionic.
Sodium chloride (NaCl) is an ionic solid. Ionic solids are made up of positive and negative ions held together by electrostatic forces of attraction. In the case of sodium chloride, sodium (Na) donates an electron to chlorine (Cl), resulting in the formation of Na+ and Cl- ions. The positive and negative ions are arranged in a regular, repeating pattern known as a crystal lattice.
Ionic solids have high melting and boiling points because the strong electrostatic forces between the ions require a lot of energy to overcome. They are also usually brittle, meaning they tend to break rather than bend, because the arrangement of ions in the crystal lattice is disrupted when a force is applied.
Other examples of ionic solids include potassium chloride (KCl), magnesium oxide (MgO), and calcium carbonate (CaCO3). It is important to note that the ionic nature of a solid is determined by the types of elements involved and their electronegativity difference.
Step-by-step explanation:
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