What is the fundamental unit of electric charge, and what is its approximate value?

The fundamental unit of electric charge is called the elementary charge, often represented by the symbol 'e'. It is the smallest possible discrete unit of electric charge that can exist. The approximate value of the elementary charge is:

• e ≈ 1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ Coulombs (C)

This value is very small, and it's often more convenient to work with multiples of this charge, such as the microcoulomb (10⁻⁶ C) or the millicoulomb (10⁻³ C). The elementary charge is positive and is carried by protons, which are subatomic particles found in the nucleus of an atom.