The adsorption of a metal monolayer on a foreign substrate generates a chan
ge in the surface stress. We calculate this change for a number of substrat
e/adsorbate systems using the embedded-atom method. The results are compare
d with those obtained from a continuum model. A cycle, in which the stretch
ing of a substrate/adsorbate system is decomposed into several steps, helps
in understanding the numerical results. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All
rights reserved.