Sodium chloride NaCl is an inorganic solid that belongs to the category of ionic compounds, specifically, it is an ionic salt. It is formed by the ionic bonding between the positively charged sodium ion Na+ and the negatively charged chloride ion Cl- . You can identify sodium chloride as an ionic compound using its physical properties, which include:1. High melting and boiling points: Sodium chloride has a high melting point of 801C 1474F and a boiling point of 1413C 2575F . This is because ionic compounds have strong electrostatic forces between their oppositely charged ions, which require a significant amount of energy to overcome.2. Crystalline structure: Sodium chloride forms a regular, repeating crystalline lattice structure. This is a characteristic feature of ionic compounds, as the arrangement of ions maximizes the attractive forces between oppositely charged ions and minimizes the repulsive forces between like-charged ions.3. Solubility in polar solvents: Sodium chloride is soluble in polar solvents like water, as the polar solvent molecules can surround and separate the individual ions, breaking the ionic bonds and allowing the ions to dissolve.4. Electrical conductivity: In its solid state, sodium chloride does not conduct electricity, as the ions are held in a fixed lattice structure and are not free to move. However, when dissolved in water or melted, it becomes an electrolyte and conducts electricity due to the presence of free-moving ions.5. Brittleness: Sodium chloride is a brittle solid, as the ionic lattice structure is not able to withstand shear stress without breaking. When force is applied, ions of the same charge may be pushed closer together, causing repulsion and breaking the lattice structure.By observing these physical properties, you can identify sodium chloride as an ionic inorganic solid.