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Question no. 25466

What is the magnitude of the smallest possible charge on an ion______________?

Select your answer for: What is the magnitude of the smallest possible charge on an ion______________?
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Answer: B. equal to the charge of an electron

Explanation

Electric charge is quantized in nature, existing only in discrete elementary units. The smallest possible net charge on any ion corresponds to one single electron. Removing or adding one electron creates an ion with this minimum fundamental charge. Elementary charge is a fundamental physical constant denoted by the symbol e. An electron possesses a negative charge equal in magnitude to this elementary unit. Ions are atoms or molecules that have gained or lost one or more electrons.

Chemistry and physics calculations frequently reference this fundamental unit of atomic charge. Understanding charge quantization is essential for studying semiconductor physics and electrochemistry. Particle accelerators manipulate charged ions using precise electromagnetic fields and forces. Atomic number determines total protons but does not represent the minimum ion charge. Total electron count varies by element and does not define the smallest charge increment. Zero charge describes a neutral atom rather than the smallest possible ionic charge.

Subject
Engineering
Topic
—
Difficulty
medium

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