The modern picture of an atom is a nucleus which is very small compared to the size of the atom.And if the atom is neutral the number of electrons and the number of protons is the same.If you take electron off you get a positive ion.If you add an elentron then you get a negative ion. The charge of the electron is the same as the charge of the proton.That's why the number is the same for neutral atoms. Electrostatics deals with forces between charges . Static means the charges are not moving, or at least a re not moving very fast. How fast is "not very fast"? When a charge moves, it generates a magnetic field, which can lead to a magnetic force. As we begin our study of electricity, we want to minimize complexity and focus just on electric force. To keep things simple, we let charges stand still, or move very slowly. So "not very fast" means motion so slow the magnetic effects are insignificant compared to the electric forces....