Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A German scientist: Walther Hermann Nernst was a German physicist and chemist. He is most famous for formulating the third law of thermodynamics, a fundamental principle in physical chemistry. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1920 for this work.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The Nernst equation, developed by Walther Hermann Nernst, is crucial in electrochemistry.
  • Walther Hermann Nernst received the Nobel Prize for his heat theorem, which became the third law of thermodynamics.

Advanced Usage

• "Nernstian" (adj): Pertaining to or characteristic of the theories or equations of Walther Hermann Nernst.
  • The cell exhibited Nernstian behavior, following the predicted potential shift.
• "Nernst effect" (n): A thermomagnetic phenomenon discovered by Walther Hermann Nernst.
  • The experiment was designed to measure the Nernst effect in the new material.

Variants and Related Words

• Nernst equation (n): A mathematical formula in electrochemistry that relates the reduction potential of an electrochemical reaction to the standard electrode potential and the activities of the chemical species involved.
  • To find the cell potential, you must apply the Nernst equation.
• Nernst lamp (n): An early type of electric lamp invented by Walther Hermann Nernst.
  • The museum displayed a rare, functioning Nernst lamp.
• Third law of thermodynamics (n): The law formulated by Nernst stating that the entropy of a perfect crystal approaches zero as the temperature approaches absolute zero.

Synonyms

• Nernst (n): Often used alone to refer to the scientist, especially in academic contexts.
  • The principle was first proposed by Nernst in 1906.

Related Phrases and Concepts

• Nernst potential (n): The potential across a membrane at which an ion is at equilibrium.
  • The resting membrane potential is close to the Nernst potential for potassium ions.
• Nernst heat theorem (n): The original statement by Nernst that led to the third law of thermodynamics.

Noun

1. German physicist and chemist who formulated the third law of thermodynamics (1864-1941)