The atomic number of an element is the same as the number of electrons in the nucleus.

• A. True
• B. Often
• C. False
• D. Never

Answer: (C)

The number labeled as the atomic number is the count of protons in the nucleus. The nucleus itself holds protons and neutrons, while electrons occupy regions outside the nucleus in electron shells. So the atomic number describes how many protons there are, not how many electrons are in the nucleus. In a neutral atom, the number of electrons matches the number of protons, but that’s due to overall charge balance, not because the atomic number counts electrons. The statement is incorrect because electrons are not located in the nucleus.