Walther nernst biography meaning
•
Walther Nernst
German physical chemist (–)
Walther Hermann NernstForMemRS (German pronunciation:[ˈvaltɐˈnɛʁnst]ⓘ; 25 June – 18 November ) was a German physical chemist known for his work in thermodynamics, physical chemistry, electrochemistry, and solid-state physics. His formulation of the Nernst heat theorem helped pave the way for the third lag of thermodynamics, for which he won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He is also known for developing the Nernst equation in
He studied physics and mathematics at the universities of Zürich, Berlin, Graz and Würzburg, where he received his doctorate [3] In , he finished his habilitation at University of Leipzig.
Life and career
[edit]Early years
[edit]Nernst was born in Briesen, Germany (now Wąbrzeźno, Poland) to Gustav Nernst (–) and Ottilie Nerger (–).[4][5] His father was a country judge. Nernst had three older sisters and one younger brother. His third sister died of cholera. Nernst
•
Nernst, Walther Hermann (–)
Walther Hermann Nernst was born in Briesen on June 25, , into a prominent Prussian family. The line of his ancestors can be traced back to the era of the first Prussian king in the seventeenth century. His most famous ancestor is Hermann Nernst, who received an award for conveying the news to the king's family about the Germans victory against Napoleon in the Battle of Waterloo. Nernst lost his mother, Ottilie Nerger, very early. His father, Gustav Nernst, was a district judge. Nernst was a very impulsive person and known for his impatience. He died of a heart attack in his country house in Zibelle on November 18,
When Nernst attended secondary school, his chemistry teacher awakened in him a passion for chemistry. This left a deep impression on the young pupil, who started early to do his own chemistry experiments at home, in the cellar. Nernst often changed universities during his study of physics, as he wanted to take part in selected lectures by th
•
Walther Nernst
Walther Nernst () made a significant breakthrough with his statement of the Third Law of Thermodynamics, which holds that it should be impossibleto attain the temperature of absolute zero in any real experiment. For this accomplishment, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for chemistry.
In addition to his important work with thermodynamics, Walther Nernst made contributions to the field of physical chemistry. While still in his twenties, he devised a mathematical expression showing how electromotive force is dependent upon temperature and concentration in a galvanic, or electricity-producing, cell. He later developed a theory to explain how ionic, or charged, compounds break down in water, a problem that had troubled chemists since the theory of ionization was proposed by Svante A. Arrhenius.
Born Hermann Walther Nernst in Briesen, West Prussia (in what is now part of Poland) on June 25, , he was the third child of Gustav Nernst, a judge, and Ottilie (Nerger) Ner