diff --git a/Cantera/src/equil/MultiPhase.cpp b/Cantera/src/equil/MultiPhase.cpp
index f139083c5..81dcb4865 100644
--- a/Cantera/src/equil/MultiPhase.cpp
+++ b/Cantera/src/equil/MultiPhase.cpp
@@ -230,6 +230,18 @@ namespace Cantera {
     return sum;
   }
 
+  int MultiPhase::speciesIndex(std::string speciesName, std::string phaseName) {
+    int p = phaseIndex(phaseName);
+    if (p < 0) {
+      throw CanteraError("MultiPhase::speciesIndex", "phase not found: " + phaseName);
+    }
+    int k = m_phase[p]->speciesIndex(speciesName);
+    if (k < 0) {
+      throw CanteraError("MultiPhase::speciesIndex", "species not found: " + speciesName);
+    }
+    return m_spstart[p] + k;
+  }
+
   /// Net charge of one phase (Coulombs). The net charge is computed as
   /// \f[ Q_p = N_p \sum_k F z_k X_k \f]
   /// where the sum runs only over species in phase \a p.
@@ -459,6 +471,16 @@ namespace Cantera {
     }
   }
 
+  void MultiPhase::addSpeciesMoles(const int indexS, const doublereal addedMoles) {
+    vector_fp tmpMoles(m_nsp, 0.0);
+    getMoles(DATA_PTR(tmpMoles));
+    tmpMoles[indexS] += addedMoles;
+    if (tmpMoles[indexS] < 0.0) {
+      tmpMoles[indexS] = 0.0;
+    }
+    setMoles(DATA_PTR(tmpMoles));
+  }
+  
   void MultiPhase::setState_TP(const doublereal T, const doublereal Pres) {
     if (!m_init) init();
     m_temp  = T;
diff --git a/Cantera/src/equil/MultiPhase.h b/Cantera/src/equil/MultiPhase.h
index 224493a1e..69c9812aa 100644
--- a/Cantera/src/equil/MultiPhase.h
+++ b/Cantera/src/equil/MultiPhase.h
@@ -231,6 +231,21 @@ namespace Cantera {
       return m_spstart[p] + k;
     }
 
+    //! Return the global index of the species belonging to phase name \c phaseName
+    //! with species name \c speciesName
+    /*!
+     * Returns the index of the global species
+     *
+     * @param speciesName    Species Name
+     * @param phaseName      Phase Name
+     *
+     * @return returns the global index
+     *
+     *  If the species or phase name is not recognized, this routine throws
+     *  a CanteraError.
+     */
+    int speciesIndex(std::string speciesName, std::string phaseName);
+
     /// Minimum temperature for which all solution phases have
     /// valid thermo data. Stoichiometric phases are not
     /// considered, since they may have thermo data only valid for
@@ -478,6 +493,13 @@ namespace Cantera {
      */
     void setMoles(const doublereal* n);
 
+
+    //! Adds moles of a certain species to the mixture
+    /*!
+     *
+     */
+    void addSpeciesMoles(const int indexS, const doublereal addedMoles);
+
     //! Retrieves a vector of element abundances
     /*!
      * @param elemAbundances  Vector of element abundances
diff --git a/Cantera/src/equil/vcs_solve.h b/Cantera/src/equil/vcs_solve.h
index 4b28f146a..67663950b 100644
--- a/Cantera/src/equil/vcs_solve.h
+++ b/Cantera/src/equil/vcs_solve.h
@@ -1278,8 +1278,8 @@ private:
   //!  energy by making sure the slope of the following functional stays
   //!  negative:
   /*!
-   *  The slope of the following functional is equivalent to the slope of the total
-   *  Gibbs free energy of the system:
+   *  The slope of the following functional is equivalent to the slope 
+   *  of the total Gibbs free energy of the system:
    *
    *                 d_Gibbs/ds = sum_k( m_deltaGRxn * m_deltaMolNumSpecies[k] )
    *
@@ -1768,17 +1768,51 @@ public:
    *  to is 
    *          kspec = irxn + m_numComponents
    *
-   *         kspec              : 1 -> Major species  VCS_SPECIES_MAJOR
+   *        kspec              : 2 -> Component species VCS_SPECIES_COMPONENT
+   *                                   -> deprecated, want to assign -2 to some
+   *                                      component species. We can already determine
+   *                                      whether the species is a component from
+   *                                      its position in the species vector.
+   *                              1 -> Major species  VCS_SPECIES_MAJOR
    *                              0 -> Minor species  VCS_SPECIES_MINOR
-   *                             -1 -> Mole number is zero 
-   *                                   in inactive phase VCS_SPECIES_ZEROEDPHASE
-   *                             -2 -> Deleted species in an
-   *                                   active multicom phase VCS_SPECIES_ZEROEDMS
-   *                             -3 -> Mole number is zero
-   *                                   in a stoich phase - VCS_SPECIES_ZEREODSS
-   *                             -4 -> Species is deleted
+   *                             -1 -> The species lies in a multicomponent phase 
+   *                                   that exists. Its concentration is currently 
+   *                                   very low, necessitating a different method 
+   *                                   of calculation.
+   *                                   -  VCS_SPECIES_ZEROEDPHASE
+   *                             -2 -> The species lies in a multicomponent phase 
+   *                                   which currently doesn't exist.
+   *                                   Its concentration is currently zero.
+   *                                   -  VCS_SPECIES_ZEROEDMS
+   *                             -3 -> Species lies in a single-species phase which
+   *                                   is currently zereod out.
+   *                                   - VCS_SPECIES_ZEREODSS
+   *                             -4 -> Species has such a small mole fraction it is
+   *                                   deleted even though its phase may possibly exist.
+   *                                   The species is believed to have such a small 
+   *                                   mole fraction that it best to throw the 
+   *                                   calculation of it out.  It will be added back in 
+   *                                   at the end of the calculation.
    *                                   - VCS_SPECIES_DELETED
-   *            -> Length equal to number of species
+   *                             -5 ->  Species refers to an electron in the metal
+   *                                    The unknown is equal to the interfacial voltage
+   *                                    drop across the interface on the SHE (standard
+   *                                    hydroogen electrode) scale (volts). 
+   *                                     - VCS_SPECIES_INTERFACIALVOLTAGE
+   *                             -6 ->  Species lies in a multicomponent phase that 
+   *                                    is zeroed atm  and will stay deleted due to a
+   *                                    choice from a higher level.
+   *                                    These species will formally always have zero 
+   *                                    mole numbers in the solution vector.
+   *                                      - VCS_SPECIES_ZEROEDPHASE  
+   *                              -7 -> The species lies in a multicomponent phase which
+   *                                    currently does exist.  Its concentration is currently
+   *                                    identically zero, though the phase exists. Note, this
+   *                                    is a temporary condition that exists at the start 
+   *                                    of an equilibrium problem.
+   *                                    The species is soon "birthed" or "deleted".
+   *                                    - VCS_SPECIES_ACTIVEBUTZERO     
+   *
    */
   std::vector<int> m_speciesStatus;
 
diff --git a/Cantera/src/equil/vcs_solve_TP.cpp b/Cantera/src/equil/vcs_solve_TP.cpp
index 3cc1c9e28..bdc9bd20a 100644
--- a/Cantera/src/equil/vcs_solve_TP.cpp
+++ b/Cantera/src/equil/vcs_solve_TP.cpp
@@ -292,24 +292,25 @@ namespace VCSnonideal {
     MajorSpeciesHaveConverged = false;
 
     /*************************************************************************/
-    /************** EVALUATE INITIAL MAJOR-MINOR VECTOR **********************/
+    /************** EVALUATE INITIAL SPECIES STATUS VECTOR *******************/
     /*************************************************************************/
     m_numRxnMinorZeroed = 0;
 #ifdef DEBUG_MODE
     if (m_debug_print_lvl >= 2) {
-      plogf("  --- MAJOR-MINOR decision is reavaluated: All species are minor except for:\n");
+      plogf("  --- Species Status decision is reavaluated: All species are minor except for:\n");
     } else if (m_debug_print_lvl >= 5) {
-      plogf("  --- MAJOR-MINOR decision is reavaluated");
+      plogf("  --- Species Status decision is reavaluated");
       plogendl();
     }
 #endif
-    for (irxn = 0; irxn < m_numRxnRdc; ++irxn) {
-      kspec = m_indexRxnToSpecies[irxn];
+    for (kspec = 0; kspec < m_numSpeciesTot; ++kspec) {
       m_speciesStatus[kspec] = vcs_species_type(kspec);
 #ifdef DEBUG_MODE 
       if (m_debug_print_lvl >= 2) {
 	if (m_speciesStatus[kspec] != VCS_SPECIES_MINOR) {
 	  switch (m_speciesStatus[kspec]) {
+	  case VCS_SPECIES_COMPONENT:
+	    break;
 	  case VCS_SPECIES_MAJOR:
 	    plogf("  ---      Major Species          : %-s\n", m_speciesName[kspec].c_str());
 	    break;
@@ -327,7 +328,8 @@ namespace VCSnonideal {
 	    plogf("  ---      Deleted-Small Species  : %-s\n", m_speciesName[kspec].c_str());
 	    break;
 	  case VCS_SPECIES_ACTIVEBUTZERO:
-	    plogf("  ---      Zeroed Species in an active MS phase (tmp): %-s\n", m_speciesName[kspec].c_str());
+	    plogf("  ---      Zeroed Species in an active MS phase (tmp): %-s\n", 
+		  m_speciesName[kspec].c_str());
 	    break;
 	  case VCS_SPECIES_INTERFACIALVOLTAGE:
 	    plogf("  ---      InterfaceVoltage Species: %-s\n", m_speciesName[kspec].c_str());
@@ -340,8 +342,10 @@ namespace VCSnonideal {
 	}
       }
 #endif
-      if (m_speciesStatus[kspec] != VCS_SPECIES_MAJOR) {
-	++m_numRxnMinorZeroed;
+      if (kspec >= m_numComponents) {
+	if (m_speciesStatus[kspec] != VCS_SPECIES_MAJOR) {
+	  ++m_numRxnMinorZeroed;
+	}
       }
     }
 #ifdef DEBUG_MODE 
@@ -1619,7 +1623,7 @@ namespace VCSnonideal {
 	    if (m_speciesStatus[kspec] != VCS_SPECIES_MINOR) {
 	      if (m_speciesStatus[kspec] == VCS_SPECIES_MAJOR) {
 		plogf("   ---   Noncomponent turned from major to minor: ");
-	      } else if (m_speciesStatus[kspec] == VCS_SPECIES_COMPONENT) {
+	      } else if (kspec < m_numComponents) {
 		plogf("   ---   Component turned into a minor species: ");
 	      } else {
 		plogf("   ---   Zeroed Species turned into a "
@@ -1636,7 +1640,7 @@ namespace VCSnonideal {
 	    if (m_debug_print_lvl >= 2) {
 	      if (m_speciesStatus[kspec] ==  VCS_SPECIES_MINOR) {
 		plogf("   ---   Noncomponent turned from minor to major: ");
-	      } else if (m_speciesStatus[kspec] == VCS_SPECIES_COMPONENT) {
+	      } else if (kspec < m_numComponents) {
 		plogf("   ---   Component turned into a major: ");	       
 	      } else {
 		plogf("   ---   Noncomponent turned from zeroed to major: ");