[frgoff]

Entropy is the natural logarithm of the number of accessible quantum states. It is a measure of disorder. Entropy increases over time. The salt crystal is ordered. Where did that order come from?

Excuse me? That's a weird definition. Entropy is the movement of energy from high enthalpy to low enthalpy, commonly referred to as heat death.

A crystal has higher entropy than the ionic solution because the atoms are in a lower energy state.

[Physicist]

Excuse me? That's a weird definition.

It's the correct definition.

A crystal has higher entropy than the ionic solution because the atoms are in a lower energy state.

Wrong. A crystal has low entropy. The local reduction in entropy is dwarfed, however, by the greatly increased entropy of the evaporated water molecules.

[Doctor Stochastic]

A crystal has higher entropy than the ionic solution because the atoms are in a lower energy state.

No, Physicist is correct. A crystal has lower entropy than an ionic solution. This is elementary chemistry.