Enter the number of protons and electrons into the calculator to determine the net charge.

Net Charge Calculator

Atom / Ion
Electrons Gained / Lost

Enter any two values to compute the third using net charge in elementary charges = protons − electrons.

Results will appear here.

Use Q = ± n × e. Enter electrons transferred or net charge, then select whether electrons were gained or lost.

Electrons Lost
Electrons Gained
Results will appear here.

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.