the number of protons in one atom an element is that elements ---

a-mass number

b-balanced charge
c-atomic number
d-isotope

The atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.

atomic number

atomic number.

The atomic number of an element indicates the number of protons in the nucleus of one atom of that element. To find the atomic number of an element, you can refer to the periodic table.

1. Locate the element you are interested in on the periodic table.
2. The atomic number is usually displayed above or below the elemental symbol. It is typically a whole number.
3. Read the atomic number of the element, and that will give you the number of protons in one atom of that element.

For example, if you are looking for the number of protons in one atom of oxygen (O), you would find oxygen on the periodic table and its atomic number would be 8. Therefore, one atom of oxygen contains 8 protons.