Calculation of the atomic radius from shielding considerations

A simple empty core Thomas Fermi pseudopotential is used to calculate the value of the radius of the atom in the simple and transition metals. In a given atom the extent of the atomic core is taken equal to the distance from the nucleus at which the outermost node in the wave function of an s valence electron occurs. It is found that this parameter is simply related to the depth of the potential well for s electrons obtained by the model potential authors for the simple and transition metals.