Nernst, Walther Hermann

Nernst, Walther Hermann (1864-1941), German physical chemist and Nobel laureate, best known for his contributions to the field of thermodynamics. Thermodynamics deals with the relation between heat and work and the conversion of one form of energy to another. Nernst developed the third law of thermodynamics by expanding principles laid out in the first two laws. Nernst's third law was useful in the development of quantum theory, which deals with the structure and energy of the atom.Nernst was born in Briesen (now Warbrzezno, Poland) and educated at the universities of Zurich, Berlin, Graz, and Würzburg.

Nernst developed an electric lamp, called the Nernst lamp, which was more efficient than the old carbon-arc lamps, but which became obsolete with the development of modern filament lamps. He made outstanding contributions to the study of chemical equilibria and to the theory of solutions, particularly regarding the nature of electrolytes. He also conducted important research on substances at extremely low temperatures. Nernst received the 1920 Nobel Prize for Chemistry.