The mass number of an element is the sum of its protons and neutrons. This is because protons and neutrons are found in the nucleus of an atom, and together they contribute most of the mass of an atom. Electrons, on the other hand, are found in the electron shells outside of the nucleus and have negligible mass. Therefore, the mass number is determined by the number of protons and neutrons in an atom, and it helps to identify different isotopes of the same element.