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The atomic number tells you the number of protons. For instance oxygen has an atomic number of 8, and hence it has 8 protons. Electrons are slightly more complicated. In a neutral atom, the number of electrons is always the same as the number of protons. However, if the atom is charged (i.e. it is an ion), it may have more electrons than protons (negatively charged) or less electrons than protons (positively charged).

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