To calculate the charge of the nucleus, you need to know the number of protons and neutrons present in the nucleus.
Protons carry a positive charge of +1 elementary charge, which is approximately 1.602 x 10^-19 coulombs. Neutrons, on the other hand, are electrically neutral and have no charge.
The total charge of the nucleus is equal to the sum of the charges of the protons. Since neutrons have no charge, they do not contribute to the overall charge. Therefore, the charge of the nucleus is determined solely by the number of protons it contains.
For example, if you have a nucleus with 8 protons, the charge of the nucleus would be +8 elementary charges, or +8e. If the nucleus contains 20 protons, the charge would be +20e. Remember, the charge of the nucleus is always positive due to the presence of protons, which carry positive charges.
It's important to note that the charge of the nucleus does not take into account the electrons orbiting the nucleus in an atom, as they balance out the positive charge of the protons in a neutral atom. The net charge of an atom is usually zero unless it gains or loses electrons.