* Protons define the element: The number of protons in an atom's nucleus is called its atomic number. This number defines what element the atom is. For example, all carbon atoms have 6 protons, all oxygen atoms have 8 protons, and so on.
* Metals are a group, not a single element: The term "metal" refers to a category of elements that share certain physical and chemical properties like good conductivity and malleability.
* Metals have different atomic numbers: The periodic table lists all known elements, including metals. Each metal has its own unique atomic number (and therefore number of protons). For example:
* Sodium (Na) has 11 protons.
* Gold (Au) has 79 protons.
* Iron (Fe) has 26 protons.
To find out the number of protons in a specific metal, you need to know which element it is.
