The '''atomic number''' is the number of protons in an [[atom|atom's]] [[nucleus]].<ref>Wile, Jay L. ''Exploring [[Creation]] With Physical [[Science]]''. Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc. 1999, 2000.</ref> (It is also the number of electrons surrounding the nucleus, if the atom is electrically neutral.) In many representations of the [[periodic table of the elements]] this number is placed either above the element's symbol or in the upper right hand corner. | The '''atomic number''' is the number of protons in an [[atom|atom's]] [[nucleus]].<ref>Wile, Jay L. ''Exploring [[Creation]] With Physical [[Science]]''. Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc. 1999, 2000.</ref> (It is also the number of electrons surrounding the nucleus, if the atom is electrically neutral.) In many representations of the [[periodic table of the elements]] this number is placed either above the element's symbol or in the upper right hand corner. |