When and where was Walther Nernst born?
Walther Hermann Nernst entered the world on the 25th of June 1864 in Briesen, a town within the Prussian Province of West Prussia.
Questions about Walther Nernst
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What did Walther Nernst discover about thermodynamics in 1905?
In 1905 Walther Nernst proposed what became known as the New Heat Theorem or the Third law of thermodynamics. He demonstrated that entropy approaches zero as temperature nears absolute zero while free energy remains above zero.
How did Walther Nernst contribute to electrical chemistry?
Walther Nernst derived an equation for electrical potential generated by unequal ion concentrations separated by a permeable membrane in 1887. His equation is widely used today in cell physiology and neurobiology to understand how nerves conduct signals.
Why did Walther Nernst invent the Nernst glower lamp?
The carbon electric filament lamp then in use was dim and expensive because it required a vacuum inside its bulb. Walther Nernst invented a solid-body radiator with a filament made of rare-earth oxides known as the Nernst glower which operates best in wavelengths from 2 to 14 micrometers.
What role did Walther Nernst play during World War I?
On the 21st of August 1914 Walther Nernst drove documents from Berlin to the commander of the German right wing in France. As a Staff Scientific Advisor he directed research on explosives including guanidine perchlorate developed in his laboratory.
When did Walther Nernst die and what happened before his death?
A severe heart attack struck him in 1939 before he died at Zibelle Germany on the 18th of November 1941. He lived quietly in the country until traveling to Oxford in 1937 to receive an honorary degree.