Final answer:
In a neutral atom, the number of protons equals the atomic number, which also indicates the same number of electrons.
Step-by-step explanation:
For a neutral atom, the number of protons is also equal to the atomic number. Atoms are neutral in electrical charge because they have the same number of negative electrons as positive protons. Therefore, the atomic number of an atom also tells you how many electrons the atom has. For instance, hydrogen has an atomic number of 1, which means it has 1 proton and 1 electron. Manganese, with an atomic number of 25, has 25 protons and also 25 electrons when neutral. The atomic number not only signifies the number of protons in an atom but also, by default, the number of electrons in a neutral atom.