Question

How does the number of protons affect the atom?

Answer 1

• Protons contribute to the mass of an atom and provide a positive charge to the nucleus.
• The number of protons determines the identity of the element.
• Electrons have a negative charge.
• The atom is electrically neutral, the number of electrons must equal the number of protons.

Answer 2

Protons are the subatomic particles which has positive charge.

The protons define the element.

So for example, every element that has 1 proton is hydrogen.

Hydrogen is a gas.

Every element that has 23 protons would be vanadium.

Vanadium is a chemical element with an atomic number 23.