Question

What is meant by ‘Quantization of Charge’?

Answer 1

Hint: Whenever we say an object or a particle is charged, it means that it is carrying some amount of charge, be it positive or negative. The charge on the body can exist only as an integral multiple of elementary charge.

Formula used:
$q=ne$
Where,
$q$ is the total charge on particle or object
$n$ is any integer, positive or negative
$e$ is the elementary charge, $1.6\times {{10}^{-19}}\text{coulombs}$

Complete step by step answer:
Electric charge is described as a physical property of matter that results in causing the charge to experience some force when it is kept under effect of an electromagnetic field. There can be two types of electric charge: positive and negative charge. Positive charge is usually carried by protons and negative charge is usually carried by electrons. Like charges repel each other and unlike charges attract each other. An object or particle carrying no charge is referred to as neutral.
Electric charge is a conserved property, meaning that the net charge of an isolated system cannot change. Electric charge is always carried by subatomic particles, that is, protons and electrons.
Charge is quantized; it comes in integer multiples of individual small units, known as elementary charge. Elementary charge is the smallest charge which can exist freely.
Charge quantization is the principle that the charge of any particle or object is an integer multiple of elementary charge. Quantization of charge implies that the charge can assume only certain discrete values. This is to say that observed value of electric charge $q$of a particle will be integral multiples of$e$, that is$1.6\times {{10}^{-19}}\text{coulombs}$,
$q=ne$
$n=0,1,2....$(Both positive and negative integers)
The charge cannot assume any value between the integers. Total charge of the body is always an integral multiple of a basic quantum of charge.

Note: The charged body cannot take any value of charge. It must contain the charge whose value is the integral multiple of elementary charge. Since a particle can be positively or negatively charged, it means that the integer can take any value, positive or negative. Also, some particles are neutral, they carry no charge. In that case, the value of the integer is zero.