Question map
Which one of the following is NOT a basic property of electric charge ?
Explanation
Electric charge possesses three fundamental properties: additivity, conservation, and quantization. Additivity implies that the total charge of a system is the algebraic sum of all individual charges. Conservation of charge dictates that the total electric charge of an isolated system remains constant over time; it can neither be created nor destroyed, only transferred between bodies. Quantization means that the charge on any body is always an integral multiple of the basic unit of charge (e), which is the charge of an electron or proton. Therefore, the statement that charges can be created and destroyed in an isolated system is incorrect, as it directly contradicts the law of conservation of charge. While charge carriers like electrons can move, the net charge of an isolated system is invariant.