Different elements have different kinds of atoms. How can you tell an atom of one element from an atom of another?
A. the number of electrons
B. the number of neutrons
C. the number of nuclei
D. the number of protons
A and D.
If the number of electrons and protons are not equal it is an ion, not an atom.
To tell an atom of one element apart from an atom of another element, you need to consider the number of protons in the atom. The correct answer is D, the number of protons.
Each atom is composed of different subatomic particles, including protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons are positively charged particles found in the nucleus of an atom. The number of protons in an atom is called the atomic number and is unique to each element.
For example, hydrogen atoms have one proton, helium atoms have two protons, and carbon atoms have six protons. By counting the number of protons in an atom, you can determine which element it belongs to.