What directly determines an atom's identity?
A) the number of electrons
B) the number of neutrons
C) the number of protons
D) the number of bonds it can form
E) the ratio of protons to electrons

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An atom's identity is determined by the number of protons in its nucleus, which is also known as its atomic number. The number of electrons and neutrons can vary without changing the identity of the atom, but if the number of protons changes, the atom becomes a different element.

What Directly Determines an Atom's Identity