Atoms with a neutral charge have an atomic number that is equal to what?

Atoms with a neutral charge have an atomic number that is equal to the number of protons present in the nucleus of the atom. The atomic number is defined as the number of protons. In a neutral atom, the number of electrons is also equal to the number of protons because the charge must balance out; thus, an atom with no overall charge has equal numbers of positive (protons) and negative (electrons) particles.

This relationship helps in identifying the element on the periodic table, where each element is defined by its atomic number, which corresponds to the number of protons. If an atom gains or loses electrons, it becomes an ion and will then carry either a positive or negative charge, but a neutral atom remains balanced with an equal number of protons and electrons.