Net Charge Calculator

Enter the elementary charge magnitude (|e|) and the number of electrons gained or lost into the calculator to determine the net charge. This calculator can also determine the number of electrons (as a magnitude) gained or lost when given the other variables.

Net Charge Calculator

Electrons Current–Time Capacitor Ion/Atom Amino Acid

Enter any two values to compute the third (|Q| = n × |e|; sign from gained/lost).

Electrons (n) Electron charge magnitude (e) C mC µC nC pC Electrons gained or lost Lost (positive net charge) Gained (negative net charge) Net Charge (Q) C mC µC nC pC

Enter any two values to compute the third (Q = I × t).

Current (I) A mA µA Time (t) s min h Net Charge (Q) C mC µC nC pC

Enter any two values to compute the third (Q = C × V).

Capacitance (C) F mF µF nF pF Voltage (V) V mV kV Net Charge (Q) C mC µC nC pC

Enter any two to compute the third (Net charge in e units = protons − electrons).

Protons (atomic number Z) Electrons Net Charge (in elementary charges, e)

Approximate net charge of a peptide/protein at a given pH from sequence.

Amino acid sequence (one-letter codes) pH (0 to 14) pKa set: Standard Calculate Reset

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Net Charge Formula

The following formula is used to calculate a net charge.

Q = \pm n \cdot e

• Where Q is the net charge (C)
• n is the number of electrons transferred (use + for electrons lost, − for electrons gained)
• e is the magnitude of the elementary charge, |e| = 1.602176634×10^-19 C (an electron has charge −|e|)

To calculate a net charge, multiply the number of electrons transferred by the elementary charge magnitude, then apply a negative sign if electrons were gained and a positive sign if electrons were lost.

Net Charge Definition

What is a net charge? A net charge is the total charge of an atom that has gained or lost electrons causing it to have either a positive or negative charge.

Example Problem

How to calculate net charge?

1. First, determine the charge of one electron.

   The magnitude of the elementary charge is approximately 1.6*10^-19 C (an electron carries -1.6*10^-19 C), where C is the unit symbol for coulombs.

2. Next, determine the number of electrons gained or lost.

   For this problem, the atom has gained 2 electrons.

3. Finally, calculate the net charge.

   Using the formula above, since electrons were gained the charge is negative: Q = -(1.6*10^-19 C) * 2 = -3.2*10^-19 C.