What does a neutral atom have equal numbers of?

A neutral atom has an equal number of protons and electrons. Protons are positively charged particles located in the nucleus of the atom, while electrons are negatively charged particles that orbit around the nucleus. For an atom to be neutral, the total positive charge from the protons must balance the total negative charge from the electrons, resulting in no overall charge.

The other options do not accurately describe the relationship in a neutral atom. While a neutral atom does contain neutrons, the number of neutrons can vary (resulting in different isotopes), so they do not necessarily match the number of protons or electrons. The number of valence electrons specifically refers to the electrons available for bonding and does not equate to the total number of electrons in an atom.