Walther Nernst

Walther Hermann Nernst (June 25, 1864 - November 18, 1941) was a German chemist who helped establish the modern field of physical chemistry. Nernst contributed to electrochemistry, thermodynamics, solid state chemistry and photochemistry. He is also known for discovering the Nernst equation.

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June 25 - 1864 - November 18 - 1941 - German - Chemist - Physical chemistry - Electrochemistry - Thermodynamics - Solid state chemistry - Photochemistry - Nernst equation

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Nernst was born in Briesen, Prussia. He studied physics and mathematics at the universities of Zürich, Berlin and Graz. After some work in Leipzig, he founded the Institute for Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry at Göttingen. Nernst invented, in 1898, the Nernst lamp, an electric lamp using an incandescent ceramic rod (the successor to the carbon lamp and the precursor to the incandescent lamp).

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Briesen - Prussia - Zürich - Berlin - Graz - Leipzig - Göttingen - Invent - 1898 - Nernst lamp - Lamp - Carbon lamp - Incandescent lamp

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Nernst researched osmotic pressure and electrochemistry. Around 1906 he established what he referred to as a "heat theorem", later known as the Third law of thermodynamics (which describes the behavior of matter as temperatures approach absolute zero).

Related Topics:
Osmotic pressure - Electrochemistry - Third law of thermodynamics - Matter - Absolute zero

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In 1920, he received the Nobel Prize in chemistry in recognition of his work in thermochemistry. In 1924, he became director of the Physikalisch-Chemisches Institut in Berlin, a position from which he retired in 1933. Nernst went on to work in electroacoustics and astrophysics.

Related Topics:
Nobel Prize in chemistry - Electroacoustics - Astrophysics

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Nernst invented an electrical piano, in 1930, replacing the sounding board with radio amplifiers. The piano used pickups to produce electronically modified and amplified sound resembling that of an electric guitar. His Nernst glower, important in the field of spectroscopy, is a solid-body radiator with a filament of rare-earth oxides. Continuous ohmic heating of the filament results in conduction. The glower operates best in wavelengths from 2 to 14 micrometers.

Related Topics:
Pickup - Electric guitar - Nernst glower - Spectroscopy

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