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What are the factors that determine the type of inorganic solid (ionic, covalent, metallic)? And based on those factors, determine the type of solid for a given compound such as NaCl, H2O, and Fe.

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The type of inorganic solid  ionic, covalent, or metallic  is determined by the nature of the bonding between the atoms or ions in the compound. The factors that influence the type of bonding include:1. Electronegativity difference: The difference in electronegativity between the elements in a compound determines the type of bond formed. A large electronegativity difference  usually greater than 1.7  leads to ionic bonding, while a smaller difference  usually less than 1.7  leads to covalent bonding.2. Metallic character: Elements with a high metallic character  such as metals  tend to form metallic bonds with other metals. Metallic bonding occurs when the valence electrons are delocalized and shared among all the atoms in the solid, creating a "sea of electrons."3. Crystal structure: The arrangement of atoms or ions in a solid can also influence the type of bonding. Ionic solids typically have a regular, repeating crystal lattice structure, while covalent solids can have various structures, such as network covalent structures or molecular structures.Based on these factors, we can determine the type of solid for the given compounds:1. NaCl: Sodium  Na  has an electronegativity of 0.93, and chlorine  Cl  has an electronegativity of 3.16. The electronegativity difference is 2.23, which is greater than 1.7. This indicates that NaCl is an ionic solid.2. H2O: Hydrogen  H  has an electronegativity of 2.20, and oxygen  O  has an electronegativity of 3.44. The electronegativity difference is 1.24, which is less than 1.7. This indicates that H2O forms covalent bonds. However, it's important to note that H2O is not a solid at room temperature; it's a liquid. In its solid form  ice , the covalent bonds form a network structure with hydrogen bonding between the molecules.3. Fe: Iron  Fe  is a metal, and it forms metallic bonds with other iron atoms. The valence electrons are delocalized and shared among all the atoms in the solid, creating a "sea of electrons." Therefore, Fe is a metallic solid.
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