Past exam of the materials science course of the University of Cambridge / 2015 / Paper 1 / 4 / a / Solution

For $N$ distinguishable lattice sites occupied by $N_i$ mutually indistinguishable atoms of each species, the number of configurations isUsing Stirling's approximation,For one mole, $N=N_A$ and $k_B{N}_A=R$, soEquiatomic configurational entropy follows when the composition has $X_i=1/n$, givingThe reference is the unmixed configurational arrangement, and the model assumes random site occupation without short-range order. It counts configurational entropy, not all vibrational, electronic or magnetic entropy. A large number of elements does not by itself guarantee a stable single solid solution: competing thermodynamic phases and the enthalpy term also enter the Gibbs free energy.