The Coordination Cluster Theory for Metallic Solutions

Abstract

The coordination cluster theory (CCT) is a statistical mechanical theory for the thermodynamic properties of a dilute solute in a binary or higher order solvent.^1–4 Although the CCT has been applied to liquids, it can be modified for solids. The theory permits one to describe the thermodynamic properties of a solute in a binary solvent in terms of the solute properties in the pure solvent components, the properties of the binary mixture and one unknown parameter. In principle, the properties of solutes in multicomponent solvents can be calculated from those in the subsidiary binary solvents. Modern quantum mechanical methods for the calculation of the energetics of metal solutions could be used to place the theory on a firm fundamental basis by testing the approximations in the theory and determining the unknown parameters.