The cluster expansion theory of Mayer is rearranged to obtain expressions for the potential of average force and the internal potential energy of the electron gas through order n3/2 in the density n. The order n result for the potential of average force is applied to ionic solutions, and gives an expression for the activity coefficient through order n; the electron-gas result also enables us to extend the Fuoss-Onsager theory of the conductivity of ionic solutions to the case of asymmetric solutes. Some mathematical corrections are made to the Fuoss-Onsager theory, so that results for symmetric solutes are obtained which differ from those of Fuoss and Onsager.
cluster expansion, Mayer theory, thermodynamics, electron gas, ionic solutions, statistical mechanics, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations