What does the atomic number of an element represent?

The atomic number of an element is defined as the number of protons present in the nucleus of an atom of that element. This is a fundamental characteristic that uniquely identifies an element and determines its position on the periodic table. For example, hydrogen, which has an atomic number of 1, has one proton in its nucleus, while carbon has an atomic number of 6, indicating it has six protons.

In addition to determining the identity of an element, the atomic number also influences its chemical properties and behavior in reactions. In a neutral atom, the number of protons is equal to the number of electrons, which ensures that the atom is electrically neutral. However, the atomic number itself specifically relates to the protons and does not consider neutrons or electrons when described.

Understanding the atomic number is crucial for studying the structure of the atom and the periodic trends that emerge from different elements.