net electric charge, z

of a particle
in electrophoresis
The algebraic sum of the charges present at the surface of the particle divided by the elementary charge of the proton. The symbol z is also used for charge number of an ion.
Source:
PAC, 1994, 66, 891 (Quantities and units for electrophoresis in the clinical laboratory (IUPAC Recommendations 1994)) on page 895