What is the electron charge of He-3 and He-4?

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SUMMARY

The electron charge of both He-3 and He-4 isotopes of helium is the same, as all helium isotopes possess an equal number of protons and electrons, resulting in a net charge of zero. The fundamental charge of an electron is approximately 1.6 x 10^-19 Coulombs, and any value less than this, such as -2.1 x 10^-21, is not representative of the total charge of electrons in a helium atom. Therefore, both isotopes are neutral atoms with no net charge.

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Hi,
Sorry this is a Newbie question.
What is the electron charge of He-3 and He-4?

I am new to physics so Sorry.

Many thanks
 
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He-3 and He-4 are isotopes of Helium. All isotopes of Helium have the same number of protons and thus electrons.
 
Ok, they are Isotopes of helium.
But do they have different charges or is the charge the same as helium?
and

What is the charge is it -2.1x10^-21
 
2203312 said:
Ok, they are Isotopes of helium.
But do they have different charges or is the charge the same as helium?
and

What is the charge is it -2.1x10^-21

These isotopes are neutral atoms! They have no net charge!

Zz.
 
2203312 said:
Ok, they are Isotopes of helium.
But do they have different charges or is the charge the same as helium?
As I said, all helium isotopes have the same number of protons & electrons, thus the same electron charge. (The most abundant helium isotope is He-4; that's what is usually meant when you just say 'helium'.)
What is the charge is it -2.1x10^-21
Where does this number come from?

Edit: I assume by 'electron charge' that you mean the total charge of the electrons in the helium atom. But realize, as ZapperZ points out, that the net charge of the helium atom is zero--the number of protons equals the number of electrons.
 
Last edited:
Ok,
Thanks anyway.

Since I don't know what I am talking about I give up.
 
Is the number -2.1\times10^{-21} supposed to be in Coulombs? Because that's about 1/100th the charge on an electron. Since the electronic charge, 1.6\times10^{-19}C is the fundamental charge, you can't have a number less than that.

(Yes I know, quarks come in 1/3 and 2/3 charges, but they're always found in pairs or triplets because of QCD restrictions.)
 

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