Exposed pad connection bare minimum configuration.

I am currently working with the ADE7880 and facing several issues that I hope you can help me with:

1. I purchased the ADE7880 from AliExpress and am uncertain about its authenticity. Are there specific voltage measurements I can take on different pins to determine if it is functional or potentially damaged?

2. What is the best temperature for soldering this IC using a soldering iron to avoid damaging it? Additionally, how can I check for any damage after soldering?

3. Regarding the exposed pad, is it necessary to solder it and connect it to ground as mentioned in the datasheet?

4. I am using the I2C interface to read the value of the CFMODE register at 0xE610, which has a default value of 0x0EA0. Should I expect it to return to this default value, indicating that everything is functioning properly?

5. I am having difficulty finding a crystal that exactly matches the specifications in the datasheet. Mouser provides options that are close, but I want to avoid delivery costs that are significantly higher than the product itself, especially since I am in the prototype development phase. Later on, I will consider that option when I place a larger order.

6. In light of point 5, could you suggest parameters for the crystal, such as load capacitance, ESR, and drive level, that I could compromise on while still ensuring functionality? For now, I just need to get to the work and establish I2C, can you suggest me some range of these parameters in which this IC is reponsive?

I appreciate your help, as I feel quite stuck right now and am eager to use this IC.

I look forward to your response.

Best regards,
Zaeem Ahmed