Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
The relative sizes of the atoms and their electronic configurations are important factors in determining the thermodynamic properties of metallic phases. The regular solution model provides for an asymmetric excess Gibbs energy when there is a size difference, but the actual degree of asymmetry does not correspond to crystallographic sizes. This is due in part to the effect of electronic configurations upon the asymmetry of the Gibbs energy. The Hume–Rothery Rules indicate that the bcc, hcp, and ccp structures are associated with characteristic outer–shell electron per atom concentrations. The electronic factors require modification of the usual definition of internal pressure as used in the regular solution theory. Rather than using the energy of vaporization to the ground atomic state, the energy of vaporization to the valence state atom, which has the same electronic configuration as in the condensed state, is a more appropriate measure of the degree of cohesion and the internal pressure. The problems of providing mathematical expressions that accomodate the contributions of internal pressure, electronic factors, and size factors are discussed.