diff --git a/src/thermophysicalModels/basic/basicThermo/basicThermo.H b/src/thermophysicalModels/basic/basicThermo/basicThermo.H
index 83da7eb562..a708677653 100644
--- a/src/thermophysicalModels/basic/basicThermo/basicThermo.H
+++ b/src/thermophysicalModels/basic/basicThermo/basicThermo.H
@@ -178,8 +178,7 @@ public:
         (
             const dictionary& thermoTypeDict,
             Table* tablePtr,
-            const int nCmpt,
-            const char* cmptNames[],
+            std::initializer_list<const char*> cmptNames,
             const word& thermoTypeName
         );
 
diff --git a/src/thermophysicalModels/basic/basicThermo/basicThermoTemplates.C b/src/thermophysicalModels/basic/basicThermo/basicThermoTemplates.C
index 08693c9f64..8d9553602b 100644
--- a/src/thermophysicalModels/basic/basicThermo/basicThermoTemplates.C
+++ b/src/thermophysicalModels/basic/basicThermo/basicThermoTemplates.C
@@ -32,8 +32,7 @@ typename Table::iterator Foam::basicThermo::lookupThermo
 (
     const dictionary& thermoTypeDict,
     Table* tablePtr,
-    const int nCmpt,
-    const char* cmptNames[],
+    std::initializer_list<const char*> cmptNames,
     const word& thermoTypeName
 )
 {
@@ -62,15 +61,19 @@ typename Table::iterator Foam::basicThermo::lookupThermo
             validThermoTypeNames.size() + 1
         );
 
+        const int nCmpt = cmptNames.size();
         validThermoTypeNameCmpts[0].setSize(nCmpt);
-        forAll(validThermoTypeNameCmpts[0], j)
+
+        label j = 0;
+        for (const char* cmptName : cmptNames)
         {
-            validThermoTypeNameCmpts[0][j] = cmptNames[j];
+            validThermoTypeNameCmpts[0][j] = cmptName;
+            ++j;
         }
 
         // Split the thermo package names into their constituent parts
         // Removing incompatible entries from the list
-        label j = 0;
+        j = 0;
         forAll(validThermoTypeNames, i)
         {
             wordList names
@@ -111,8 +114,7 @@ typename Table::iterator Foam::basicThermo::lookupThermo
 
         if (thermoTypeDict.found("properties"))
         {
-            const int nCmpt = 4;
-            const char* cmptNames[nCmpt] =
+            std::initializer_list<const char*> cmptNames
             {
                 "type",
                 "mixture",
@@ -133,15 +135,13 @@ typename Table::iterator Foam::basicThermo::lookupThermo
             (
                 thermoTypeDict,
                 tablePtr,
-                nCmpt,
                 cmptNames,
                 thermoTypeName
             );
         }
         else
         {
-            const int nCmpt = 7;
-            const char* cmptNames[nCmpt] =
+            std::initializer_list<const char*> cmptNames
             {
                 "type",
                 "mixture",
@@ -168,7 +168,6 @@ typename Table::iterator Foam::basicThermo::lookupThermo
             (
                 thermoTypeDict,
                 tablePtr,
-                nCmpt,
                 cmptNames,
                 thermoTypeName
             );
diff --git a/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/SpecieMixture/SpecieMixture.H b/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/SpecieMixture/SpecieMixture.H
index a8a7627e3b..5b6ed8c328 100644
--- a/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/SpecieMixture/SpecieMixture.H
+++ b/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/SpecieMixture/SpecieMixture.H
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ public:
 
 } // End namespace Foam
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 #ifdef NoRepository
     #include "SpecieMixture.C"
diff --git a/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/egrMixture/egrMixture.C b/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/egrMixture/egrMixture.C
index 2a36c957fc..449a62da61 100644
--- a/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/egrMixture/egrMixture.C
+++ b/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/egrMixture/egrMixture.C
@@ -26,12 +26,6 @@ License
 #include "egrMixture.H"
 #include "fvMesh.H"
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Static Data Members * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
-template<class ThermoType>
-const char* Foam::egrMixture<ThermoType>::specieNames_[3] = {"ft", "b", "egr"};
-
-
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Constructors  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 template<class ThermoType>
@@ -45,7 +39,7 @@ Foam::egrMixture<ThermoType>::egrMixture
     basicCombustionMixture
     (
         thermoDict,
-        speciesTable(nSpecies_, specieNames_),
+        speciesTable({"ft", "b", "egr"}),
         mesh,
         phaseName
     ),
diff --git a/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/egrMixture/egrMixture.H b/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/egrMixture/egrMixture.H
index ae3c0947d5..81879741e4 100644
--- a/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/egrMixture/egrMixture.H
+++ b/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/egrMixture/egrMixture.H
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ Group
     grpReactionThermophysicalMixtures
 
 Description
-    Foam::egrMixture
+    The egr mixture contains species ("ft", "b", "egr").
 
 SourceFiles
     egrMixture.C
@@ -54,10 +54,7 @@ class egrMixture
 :
     public basicCombustionMixture
 {
-    // Private data
-
-        static const int nSpecies_ = 3;
-        static const char* specieNames_[3];
+    // Private Data
 
         dimensionedScalar stoicRatio_;
 
@@ -190,7 +187,7 @@ public:
 
 } // End namespace Foam
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 #ifdef NoRepository
     #include "egrMixture.C"
diff --git a/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/homogeneousMixture/homogeneousMixture.C b/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/homogeneousMixture/homogeneousMixture.C
index 4ae9bc10bd..89ce85c6cd 100644
--- a/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/homogeneousMixture/homogeneousMixture.C
+++ b/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/homogeneousMixture/homogeneousMixture.C
@@ -26,12 +26,6 @@ License
 #include "homogeneousMixture.H"
 #include "fvMesh.H"
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Static Data Members * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
-template<class ThermoType>
-const char* Foam::homogeneousMixture<ThermoType>::specieNames_[1] = {"b"};
-
-
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Constructors  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 template<class ThermoType>
@@ -45,7 +39,7 @@ Foam::homogeneousMixture<ThermoType>::homogeneousMixture
     basicCombustionMixture
     (
         thermoDict,
-        speciesTable(nSpecies_, specieNames_),
+        speciesTable({"b"}),
         mesh,
         phaseName
     ),
diff --git a/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/homogeneousMixture/homogeneousMixture.H b/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/homogeneousMixture/homogeneousMixture.H
index 3c600668e8..77ba0b52d3 100644
--- a/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/homogeneousMixture/homogeneousMixture.H
+++ b/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/homogeneousMixture/homogeneousMixture.H
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ Group
     grpReactionThermophysicalMixtures
 
 Description
-    Foam::homogeneousMixture
+    The homogeneous mixture contains species ("b").
 
 SourceFiles
     homogeneousMixture.C
@@ -54,10 +54,7 @@ class homogeneousMixture
 :
     public basicCombustionMixture
 {
-    // Private data
-
-        static const int nSpecies_ = 1;
-        static const char* specieNames_[1];
+    // Private Data
 
         ThermoType reactants_;
         ThermoType products_;
@@ -148,7 +145,7 @@ public:
 
 } // End namespace Foam
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 #ifdef NoRepository
     #include "homogeneousMixture.C"
diff --git a/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/inhomogeneousMixture/inhomogeneousMixture.C b/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/inhomogeneousMixture/inhomogeneousMixture.C
index 53346cbbe1..0d65c63e50 100644
--- a/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/inhomogeneousMixture/inhomogeneousMixture.C
+++ b/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/inhomogeneousMixture/inhomogeneousMixture.C
@@ -26,16 +26,6 @@ License
 #include "inhomogeneousMixture.H"
 #include "fvMesh.H"
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Static Data Members * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
-template<class ThermoType>
-const char* Foam::inhomogeneousMixture<ThermoType>::specieNames_[2] =
-{
-    "ft",
-    "b"
-};
-
-
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Constructors  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 template<class ThermoType>
@@ -49,7 +39,7 @@ Foam::inhomogeneousMixture<ThermoType>::inhomogeneousMixture
     basicCombustionMixture
     (
         thermoDict,
-        speciesTable(nSpecies_, specieNames_),
+        speciesTable({"ft", "b"}),
         mesh,
         phaseName
     ),
diff --git a/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/inhomogeneousMixture/inhomogeneousMixture.H b/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/inhomogeneousMixture/inhomogeneousMixture.H
index efebb9fa51..43a432491a 100644
--- a/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/inhomogeneousMixture/inhomogeneousMixture.H
+++ b/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/inhomogeneousMixture/inhomogeneousMixture.H
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ Group
     grpReactionThermophysicalMixtures
 
 Description
-    Foam::inhomogeneousMixture
+    The inhomogeneous mixture contains species ("ft", "b").
 
 SourceFiles
     inhomogeneousMixture.C
@@ -54,10 +54,7 @@ class inhomogeneousMixture
 :
     public basicCombustionMixture
 {
-    // Private data
-
-        static const int nSpecies_ = 2;
-        static const char* specieNames_[2];
+    // Private Data
 
         dimensionedScalar stoicRatio_;
 
@@ -182,7 +179,7 @@ public:
 
 } // End namespace Foam
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 #ifdef NoRepository
     #include "inhomogeneousMixture.C"
diff --git a/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/veryInhomogeneousMixture/veryInhomogeneousMixture.C b/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/veryInhomogeneousMixture/veryInhomogeneousMixture.C
index a745c41d3a..0ed7b76702 100644
--- a/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/veryInhomogeneousMixture/veryInhomogeneousMixture.C
+++ b/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/veryInhomogeneousMixture/veryInhomogeneousMixture.C
@@ -26,17 +26,6 @@ License
 #include "veryInhomogeneousMixture.H"
 #include "fvMesh.H"
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Static Data Members * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
-template<class ThermoType>
-const char* Foam::veryInhomogeneousMixture<ThermoType>::specieNames_[3] =
-{
-    "ft",
-    "fu",
-    "b"
-};
-
-
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Constructors  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 template<class ThermoType>
@@ -50,7 +39,7 @@ Foam::veryInhomogeneousMixture<ThermoType>::veryInhomogeneousMixture
     basicCombustionMixture
     (
         thermoDict,
-        speciesTable(nSpecies_, specieNames_),
+        speciesTable({"ft", "fu", "b"}),
         mesh,
         phaseName
     ),
diff --git a/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/veryInhomogeneousMixture/veryInhomogeneousMixture.H b/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/veryInhomogeneousMixture/veryInhomogeneousMixture.H
index e6ab583aa0..6286beab63 100644
--- a/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/veryInhomogeneousMixture/veryInhomogeneousMixture.H
+++ b/src/thermophysicalModels/reactionThermo/mixtures/veryInhomogeneousMixture/veryInhomogeneousMixture.H
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ Group
     grpReactionThermophysicalMixtures
 
 Description
-    Foam::veryInhomogeneousMixture
+    The very inhomogeneous mixture contains species ("ft", "fu", "b").
 
 SourceFiles
     veryInhomogeneousMixture.C
@@ -54,10 +54,7 @@ class veryInhomogeneousMixture
 :
     public basicCombustionMixture
 {
-    // Private data
-
-        static const int nSpecies_ = 3;
-        static const char* specieNames_[3];
+    // Private Data
 
         dimensionedScalar stoicRatio_;
 
@@ -183,7 +180,7 @@ public:
 
 } // End namespace Foam
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 #ifdef NoRepository
     #include "veryInhomogeneousMixture.C"
diff --git a/src/thermophysicalModels/solidChemistryModel/basicSolidChemistryModel/basicSolidChemistryModelNew.C b/src/thermophysicalModels/solidChemistryModel/basicSolidChemistryModel/basicSolidChemistryModelNew.C
index 0e7f7551ee..3a0786137e 100644
--- a/src/thermophysicalModels/solidChemistryModel/basicSolidChemistryModel/basicSolidChemistryModelNew.C
+++ b/src/thermophysicalModels/solidChemistryModel/basicSolidChemistryModel/basicSolidChemistryModelNew.C
@@ -50,8 +50,7 @@ Foam::basicSolidChemistryModel::New(solidReactionThermo& thermo)
 
     Info<< "Selecting chemistry type " << chemistryTypeDict << endl;
 
-    const int nCmpt = 13;
-    const char* cmptNames[nCmpt] =
+    std::initializer_list<const char*> cmptNames
     {
         "chemistrySolver",
         "chemistryThermo",
@@ -136,10 +135,14 @@ Foam::basicSolidChemistryModel::New(solidReactionThermo& thermo)
             validChemistryTypeNames.size() + 1
         );
 
+        const int nCmpt = cmptNames.size();
         validChemistryTypeNameCmpts[0].setSize(nCmpt);
-        forAll(validChemistryTypeNameCmpts[0], j)
+
+        label j = 0;
+        for (const char* cmptName : cmptNames)
         {
-            validChemistryTypeNameCmpts[0][j] = cmptNames[j];
+            validChemistryTypeNameCmpts[0][j] = cmptName;
+            ++j;
         }
 
         // Split the thermo package names into their constituent parts