Walther+Hermann+Nernst

=Walther Hermann Nernst (1864-1941) =  =Personal History = Walther Hermman Nernst was born in Briesen, West Prussia on June 25th, 1864 to district judge, Gustav Nernst. Nernst attended Graudente and studied mostly classical literature, humanities and natural science. He graduated first in his class of 1883 with an ambition to become a poet. However, he later attended the University of Zurich, Berlin and Graz in the fields of physics and mathematics. Nernst spent his later years visiting lectures, performing experimental studies and working towards a Ph.D under the scrutiny of Friedrich Kohlrausch. In 1887, he graduated with the thesis on electromotive forces produced by magnitism in heated metal plates and joined Wilhem Ostwald at the Leipzig Univerity in the same year. Walther Hermann Nernst married Emman Lohmeyer, daughter of Göttingen medical professor in 1892. They had two sons, Rudolf and Gustav - both whom died in World War I, and three daughters, Hildegard, Edith and Angela. In 1894, he was invited to the Physical Chemistry Chair in Göttingen and later became the Göttingen's Director in 1922. Walther Hermann Nernst retired in 1933 and died in Berlin on November 18, 1941.

=  = =  Contributions and Experiments = Nernst was a great contributor to the world of science. He made contributions generally towards the field of physical chemistry. In his early twenties, he formulated a mathematical expression that shows how electromotive force is dependent on temperature and concentration in a galvanic cell. Nernst later developed a theory explaining how ionic compounds break down in water, which revealed answers to many chemists who were troubled by this problem. Nernst's theory was followed after Svante A. Arrhenius' theory of ionization.

After many years of studying, Nernst became one of the most influential men involved in the discoveries of the application of physical chemistry discipline or laws to chemical phenomena. His first problem that he addressed was the diffusion of two kinds of ions across a semi-permeable membrane. He wrote a math equation describing the process, in relation to electric potential of the ions to different properties of the cell.

In 1893, Nernst was promoted to be professor at Göttingen. He then wrote and published a textbook on physical chemistry called, //Theoretische Chemie vom Standpunkte der Avogadroschen Regel und der Thermodynamik (Theoretical Chemistry from the Standpoint of Avogadro's Rule and Thermodunamics).// The book became very popular world wide with a total number of fifteen editions. The main objective of the textbook was to lay out the principles and the different methods for a new approach to the study of chemistry. Nernst also investigated a variety of topics in the field of solution chemistry during that same year. A theory was developed from the experiments of how ionic compounds break down in water. Nernst claimed that the dissociation of a compound occurs because the presence of nonconducting water molecules making it more possible to move freely and to conduct an electric current through the solution. In addition, Nernst formed new techniques in measuring the degree of hydration of ions in solutions. He also devised methods for figuring out the pH value of a solution. In 1889, Nernst brought up another fundamental problem in solution chemistry on precipitation. He created a math equation that expresses how the concentration of ions in a soluble compound could result in the form of insoluble. This equation is a special case of ionization involving soluble substances, which is now known as the solubility product equation. Few years later, Nernst introduced a concept relating buffer solutions. His concept explained how acids and bases could be used in different scientific and practical situations. Nernst spend years at Göttingen, where he was devoted to develop a better electric light bulb. Nernst not only was interested in chemistry, but was also interested in electro technology. He did a massive of research into improving the incandescent lamp. This allowed him to discover that magnesium oxide is a perfect electric conductor at high temperatures, which is excellent for producing white light when it is used as a filament. In 1897, he began working with the electric light bulb, with patents he obtained from Europe and the United States. The Nernst Lamp was then manufactured for several years by Allgemeine Elektrizitätsgesellschaft (AEG) in Berlin. It was a great contribution. Nernst also invented an electric piano, but it was never successfully marketed.

In 1906, Nernst announced his heat theorem, and is known as the Third Law of Thermodynamics. The theorem indicates the impossibility of attaining absolute zero in an energy system. He stated that it becomes more and more difficult for the energy to extract as it approaches near absolute zero. Nernst had worked with the calculation of chemical equilibria from thermal measurements for a long period of time. He recognized the special behaviour of Δ //F// and Δ //H// in relation of the change of temperature in the areas of absolute zero.
 * Equation: Δ F = Δ H - T Δ S**

Nernst had invented, dicovered and experimented many objects. He was an amazing contributor to the field of science.

=Interesting Facts =

Walter Hermann Nernst lived a very interesting life. During the 1880s, Nernst along with Friedrich Wilhelm Ostwald and Svante Arrhenius became the most influential men in exploring and expanding the field of physical chemistry. By 1903, Nernst had found a way to measure the degree of hydration of ions in solutions and later pH values in solutions. Another interesting fact was that Nernst won the 1920 Nobel Prize for Chemistry. The Nobel Prize was to honour his work in finding the Third Law of Thermodynamics. Besides that, he invented an incandescent lamp that used a different kind of filament and an electric amplified piano. Unfortunately, these two inventions were not big commercial successes. It is said that he was one of the geniuses in the modern times of Germen chemistry. By 1934, Nernst retired.  Besides his contributions to society, there are also some other very intriguing facts. At a young age Nernst had an interest in poetry, literature and drama. It was said that he actually considered becoming a poet for a living. Nernst’s pass times were hunting, fishing, and traveling. In the town of Gottingen, a place where he lived for quite awhile, Nernst was one of the first people to buy a car. Nernst was also a very good friend of Albert Einstein.  Besides work, he also started a family, and in the 1890s he married Emma Lohmeyer. Together they had five children, three girls and two boys. A very awful event happened to Nernst’s family when their two sons both died in the World War I. Another thing was that when Hitler ruled Germany, Nernst personally did not agree with the political and scientific rules of Hitler, but was not able to express his beliefs. One factor of his dislike to Hitler’s policies was because his daughters are married to Jews. After retirement, Nernst lived a quiet life and at the age of 77, Walter Hermann Nernst died of a heart attack at home.

 