After a capacitor is discharged:

• A. It is safe to handle.
• B. It must be replaced immediately.
• C. It remains dangerous to touch.
• D. It should be tested under load.

Answer: (A)

When a capacitor has been discharged, its stored energy has been removed, so touching it no longer carries a risk of a shock. The energy a capacitor holds is 1/2 C V^2; by providing a discharge path, the voltage drops toward zero and the stored energy becomes heat in the discharge path. Once the voltage is near zero, it’s safe to handle the component or the circuit.

There’s no need to replace the capacitor just because it was discharged, unless it’s defective or failing in another way. And you don’t need to test it under load just to handle it safely; if you want to confirm safety, verify that the voltage is near zero with a proper meter before touching.