Which of the following does the atomic number of an atom represent?
the number of protons in the atom
the number of protons in the atom
the number of neutrons in the atom
the number of neutrons in the atom
the number of particles outside the nucleus of the atom
the number of particles outside the nucleus of the atom
the number of particles in the nucleus of the atom
the number of protons in the atom
The atomic number of an atom represents the number of protons in the nucleus of the atom.
The atomic number of an atom represents the number of protons in the nucleus of the atom. Protons are positively charged particles found in the nucleus of an atom.
To determine the atomic number of an atom, you can refer to the periodic table of elements. Each element on the periodic table is assigned a unique atomic number, which corresponds to the number of protons in the nucleus of its atoms. For example, hydrogen has an atomic number of 1, which means it contains 1 proton in its nucleus. Oxygen has an atomic number of 8, indicating it has 8 protons in its nucleus.
Therefore, the correct answer is: the number of protons in the atom.