Which of the following substances is most likely to be a crystalline solid at room temperature?

• A. NaCl (table salt)
• B. Honey
• C. Rubber
• D. Glass

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the nature of crystalline solids: Crystalline solids have a well-ordered, repeating arrangement of atoms, ions, or molecules extending in all three spatial dimensions.
2. Analyze each substance's structure: Honey is a viscous liquid, rubber is an amorphous polymer (non-crystalline), and glass is an amorphous solid lacking long-range order.
3. Recognize that NaCl (table salt) is an ionic compound composed of Na⁺ and Cl⁻ ions arranged in a regular, repeating lattice structure, characteristic of crystalline solids.
4. Recall that ionic compounds like NaCl typically form crystalline solids at room temperature due to strong electrostatic forces between ions.
5. Conclude that among the given options, NaCl is most likely to be a crystalline solid at room temperature because it has a well-defined crystal lattice, unlike the other substances.