NaCl is an example of:

Options

A. Covalent solid
B. Ionic solid
C. Molecular solid
D. Metallic solid

Answer

To determine what type of solid NaCl is, we can analyze its structure and bonding characteristics step by step.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Composition of NaCl**:
- NaCl (sodium chloride) is composed of sodium ions (Na⁺) and chloride ions (Cl⁻).

2. **Identifying the Type of Bonding**:
- The bonding in NaCl is ionic. This is characterized by the transfer of electrons from sodium to chlorine, resulting in the formation of positively charged sodium ions and negatively charged chloride ions.

3. **Analyzing the Structure**:
- NaCl crystallizes in a face-centered cubic (FCC) lattice structure. In this structure, each sodium ion is surrounded by six chloride ions and vice versa, which leads to a coordination number of 6 for both ions.

4. **Comparing with Other Types of Solids**:
- **Covalent Solids**: These are made up of atoms connected by covalent bonds, forming a network (e.g., diamond, graphite).
- **Molecular Solids**: These consist of molecules held together by intermolecular forces (e.g., ice, sugar).
- **Metallic Solids**: These consist of metal atoms that share electrons in a "sea of electrons" allowing for conductivity and malleability.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Given that NaCl is formed by ionic bonds and has an ionic structure, it is classified as an **ionic solid**.

### Final Answer:
NaCl is an example of an **ionic solid**.

---