text: how to find # of electrons in an ion ? how to find # of electrons in an ion ?  and if they are negatively or positevely charged... thank u 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. it is negative if more electrons than protons.  example: hydrogen usually has one proton and one electron. h+ = one proton, no electron h- = one proton, two electrons  your 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.