How is an atom's atomic number related to its number of protons?

The atomic number of an atom is defined as the number of protons in its nucleus. This fundamental property is what distinguishes one element from another on the periodic table, as each element has a unique atomic number. Therefore, the atomic number directly correlates to the number of protons; they are indeed equal. For instance, hydrogen has an atomic number of 1, meaning it has one proton, while carbon has an atomic number of 6 because it has six protons. This relationship lays the foundation for understanding elemental identity in chemistry.