+ charged sphere and - charged sphere touch and separate

[Soniteflash]

Homework Statement

A small metal sphere X is charged by losing 500 electrons. An identical metal sphere Y is charged by gaining 1000 electrons. The two spheres are first put in contact with each other and then separated. If -e is the charge on an electron, what is the charge on each sphere after separation?

Sphere X Sphere Y

A +500 +500
B +250 +250
C -250 +250
D -250 -250
E -500 -500​

Homework Equations

n/a ?

The Attempt at a Solution

I think the answer is D.
Since the metal spheres touch each other electrons will be transferred from sphere Y to sphere X so that both have the same charge.
Is this correct? I

 

[BvU]

If the unit of charge is e then I agree.
You mean to say that there are 250 electrons on each of the two spheres.
One electron is -e, so 250 electrons is -250e

If the exercise is literally as you present it, the formulation is a bit unfortunate, but that's not your problem

 

[Soniteflash]

If the unit of charge is e then I agree.
You mean to say that there are 250 electrons on each of the two spheres.
One electron is -e, so 250 electrons is -250e

If the exercise is literally as you present it, the formulation is a bit unfortunate, but that's not your problem

Thanks. I need to get better at my formulation anyways...