# Which of the following charge cannot exist in nature?

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Which of the following charge cannot exist in nature?
1. 3.2 × 10-19C
2. 6.4 × 10-19C
3. 5.4 × 10-19C
4. 4.8 × 10-19C

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Correct Answer - Option 3 : 5.4 × 10-19C

CONCEPT:

Electric charge:

• It is an intrinsic property of the elementary particles of matter which gives rise to electric force between various objects.
• It is a scalar quantity.
• SI unit of electric charge is coulomb (C).

Quantisation of charge:

• The experimental fact that electric charges occur in discrete amounts instead of continuous amounts is called quantization of charge.
• All free charges are integral multiples of a basic unit of charge denoted by 'e'.
• Thus, the possible charge on a body is given by

⇒ q = ne

Where n is an integer e = 1.6 × 10-19C

CALCULATION:

$n=\frac{q}{e}$

Option 1:

q = 3.2 × 10-19 C
$n=\frac{3.2\times 10^{-19}}{1.6\times 10^{-19}}=2$n is an integer

Option 2:

q = 6.4 × 10-19C

$n=\frac{6.4\times 10^{-19}}{1.6\times 10^{-19}}=4$ , n is an integer

Option 3:

q = 5.4 × 10-19C

$n=\frac{5.4\times 10^{-19}}{1.6\times 10^{-19}}=3.375$ , n is not an integer

Option 4:

q = 4.8 × 10-19C
$n=\frac{4.8\times 10^{-19}}{1.6\times 10^{-19}}=3$, n is an integer

• Therefore, the charge is not quantized, which means 5.4 × 10-19C cannot exist in nature.
• Hence option 3 is correct