what makes up the atomic number

The atomic number is made up of the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom. It is a fundamental characteristic that uniquely identifies each chemical element. In a neutral atom, the atomic number is also equal to the number of electrons surrounding the nucleus. The atomic number, symbolized as ZZZ, defines the element's identity and determines its position on the periodic table. The number of neutrons is not part of the atomic number but contributes to the atom's mass number together with protons.