text: For a neutral atom, the number of electrons = the number of protons.  The number of protons is the atomic number.  An atom is positive if there are fewer electrons than protons.\nIt is negative if more electrons than protons.\n\nExample:\nHydrogen usually has one proton and one electron.\nH+ = one proton, no electron\nH- = one proton, two electrons\n\nYour question may be different than how I explained it.  You should also know that the first column of the period table are all +1, the second are all +2,  The next to last is always -1, and the last column are all neutral.  It gets more confusing for the rest.  Google "periodic tables" and they will show you ones will ions.