An electron has what charge?

An electron has what charge?

• A. -1.60 x 10^-19 C
• B. +1.60 x 10^-19 C
• C. 0 C
• D. +1.60 x 10^-18 C

Answer: (A)

The electron carries a negative elementary charge. Each electron has a charge equal in magnitude to the elementary charge e, about 1.60 × 10^-19 coulombs, but with a minus sign. So the correct value is -1.60 × 10^-19 C. The positive 1.60 × 10^-19 C would be the charge of a positively charged particle like a proton, zero coulombs would mean no net charge, and 1.60 × 10^-18 C is ten times larger than the actual magnitude.

The electron carries a negative elementary charge. Each electron has a charge equal in magnitude to the elementary charge e, about 1.60 × 10^-19 coulombs, but with a minus sign. So the correct value is -1.60 × 10^-19 C. The positive 1.60 × 10^-19 C would be the charge of a positively charged particle like a proton, zero coulombs would mean no net charge, and 1.60 × 10^-18 C is ten times larger than the actual magnitude.