The Atomic Number of an Atom is the Number Of

Question

The atomic number of an atom is the number of
A) protons
B) neutrons
C) electrons
D) both A and B

Accepted Answer

The atomic number of an atom is equal to the number of protons present in the nucleus of the atom. Therefore, option A is the correct choice. Option B is incorrect because the number of neutrons varies for different isotopes of the same element. Option C is incorrect because although the number of electrons in an atom is equal to the number of protons, it is not the same as the atomic number. Option D is incorrect because it includes option B, which is incorrect.