Question

A cation can never have the following magnitude of charge.

• A. 1.6×10 ^-19 coulomb
• B. 2.46×10 ^-19 coulomb
• C. 3.2×10 ^-19 coulomb
• D. 4.8×10 ^-19 coulomb

Answer 1

The correct option is B

2.46×10 ^-19 coulomb

• Explanation for the correct option
• option(B): cations are formed by the removal of electron/electrons from a neutral atom.
• Hence they always have an integral multiple of charge of an electron.
• Charge of an electron:1.6×10 ^-19 coulomb.
• Since 2.46×10 ^-19 coulomb is not an integral multiple of 1.6×10^-19 , a cations can never have this charge.
  
• Explanation for the incorrect option
• option(A):1.6×10^-19 is the charge of a single electron and hence can be the charge of a cation.
• option(C):3.2×10 ^-19 coulomb is multiple of electron charge 2.Hence it can be a charge of a cation.
• option(D) 4.8×10 ^-19 coulomb is multiple of electron charge 3.Hence it can be a charge of a cation.
• Hence the correct option in (B) cations can never have a charge of 2.46×10 ^-19 coulomb.