In case a gas condenses into clusters of atoms, the number of atoms in these clusters varies between a few and hundreds. However, there are peaks at specific sizes, usually one at lower and one at larger numbers. Often, specific numbers dominate. These numbers are called magic numbers, a term borrowed from the same concept in nuclear physics.

In this context, magic numbers often represent three-dimensional figurate numbers such as the octahedral numbers: they count the numbers of spheres in sphere packings of Platonic solids and related polyhedra.[1][2]

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References


fr:Nombre magique (chimie)