Two point charge Q each are placed at a distance d apart. A third point charge q is placed at a distance x from mid-point on the perpendicular bisector. The value of x at which charge q will experience the maximum Coulomb's force is:

The medium is affects force. We know this from the constant, k, in Coulomb's Law, that depends on the medium. If you place a charge in an insulator or dielectric medium, like water, the force between them will decrease. This decrease can be taken into account by the medium's permittivity. 

The polarity of the charges that are interacting help us understand the direction. Like charges, whether it's both positive or negative, will always repel. Unlike charges, when one is positive and the other is negative, will always attract each other. The force acts along the line connecting the two

The main condition would be that the point charges have to be at rest or be in a stationary position, for Coulomb's Law to work. The thing is, if the charge particles move, we have to consider the impact of magnetic forces then. 

In Case I when both are positively charged, due to induction positive charge moves outwards on spheres, increasing effective distance between centres of charge causing magnitude of the force to decrease.