Final answer:
In a charged capacitor, the positively charged conductor has a deficiency of electrons, while the negatively charged conductor has an excess.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a charged capacitor has a voltage potential across it, the conductor with a deficiency of electrons is the one that is positively charged. This occurs because in a capacitor, one plate accumulates an excess of electrons (negative charge) and the other plate has electrons removed (positive charge), creating a potential difference across the plates. As electrons move from the negatively charged plate to the positively charged one, the positive plate experiences a deficiency of electrons. This is aligned with the concept that negative charges move from regions of low potential to regions of high potential. The capacitance of a capacitor, indicating its ability to store charge, is determined by the geometry and the dielectric material between the plates and does not depend on the voltage across the capacitor. Thus, in a fully charged parallel plate capacitor, the plate connected to the positive terminal of a battery becomes positively charged, indicating a lack of electrons, while the plate connected to the negative terminal becomes negatively charged, indicating an excess of electrons. Once the battery is disconnected, this charge separation remains.