The charge of an alpha particle, which consists of two protons and two neutrons, is determined by the charges of the protons alone, as neutrons are neutral. The charge of a single proton is approximately 1.60x10^-19 Coulombs. Therefore, to find the total charge of the alpha particle, the charge of the proton must be multiplied by two, resulting in a total charge of approximately 3.20x10^-19 Coulombs. The initial confusion arose from an incorrect value for the charge of an electron, which is actually -1.602 x 10^-19 Coulombs. The correct approach confirms that the charge of the alpha particle is indeed 3.20x10^-19 C.
