Approximately how many electrons constitute a charge of one coulomb?

The correct option is 6 × 10^18.

Explanation

The principle of quantization of electric charge states that the total charge ($Q$) on any body is always an integral multiple of the elementary charge ($e$). The elementary charge is the magnitude of charge carried by a single electron or proton.

Calculation and Analysis
To determine the number of electrons constituting one coulomb of charge, the quantization formula is applied:

• Formula: $Q = n \times e$
  • $Q$ = Total charge = $1$ Coulomb (C)
  • $e$ = Charge on one electron $\approx 1.6 \times 10^{-19}$ C
  • $n$ = Number of electrons
• Calculation:
  Rearranging the formula to solve for $n$:
  $n = \frac{Q}{e} = \frac{1}{1.6 \times 10^{-19}}$
  $n = \frac{10^{19}}{1.6} = 6.25 \times 10^{18}$

Thus, approximately $6 \times 10^{18}$ electrons constitute a charge of one coulomb.

Key Takeaway:
One Coulomb is a macroscopic unit of charge representing a significant accumulation of electrons. Specifically, $1 \text{ C} = 6.25 \times 10^{18}$ elementary charges.