title: Magic numbers for metallic clusters and the principle of maximum hardness.
abstract: It is shown that for relatively more stable metallic clusters (those with magic number of atoms) the chemical hardness (I-A) too is relatively larger. Thus the occurrence of magic numbers for metal clusters whose stability is determined by their electronic shell structure can be understood as a manifestation of the principle of maximum hardness. This may also represent a possible way of delineating clusters with stability dominated by their electronic shell structure from those for which the magic numbers occur as a result of their geometric structure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Harbola