The Atomic Number of an Atom is Equal to the Number

Question

The atomic number of an atom is equal to the number of
A) electrons
B) neutrons
C) protons
D) both b and c above

Accepted Answer

The atomic number of an atom is the same as the number of protons in the nucleus of the atom. This is because every element has a unique number of protons, which defines its identity as a specific element on the periodic table. The number of electrons in an atom can vary, depending on whether the atom is neutral or has a charge. The number of neutrons in an atom can also vary, but it does not affect the identity of the element, only its mass number.