What is the charge of an electron?

The charge of an electron is indeed negative one. This fundamental property is crucial in understanding atomic structure and electrical interactions. Electrons are subatomic particles that orbit the nucleus of an atom, which contains positively charged protons and neutral neutrons. The negative charge of electrons provides the balancing effect necessary to maintain the stability of atoms since protons have a positive charge.

In terms of measurements, the negative charge is often represented as -1 elementary charge, which corresponds to approximately -1.602 x 10^(-19) coulombs. This negative charge plays a critical role in chemical bonding and electrical conductivity, as it allows electrons to be attracted to positively charged ions, facilitating the formation of molecules and compounds. Understanding the negative charge of electrons is foundational in both chemistry and physics, influencing various concepts such as ionic and covalent bonding, electrical potential, and charge balance in reactions.