Walther Hermann Nernst

Walther Hermann Nernst (German pronunciation: [ˈvaltɐ ˈnɛʁnst] ; 25 June 1864 – 18 November 1941) was a German physical chemist known for his work in thermodynamics, physical chemistry, electrochemistry, and solid-state physics. His formulation of the Nernst heat theorem helped pave the way for the third law of thermodynamics, for which he won the 1920 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He is also known for developing the Nernst equation in 1887.

He studied physics and mathematics at the University of Zurich, the Friedrich Wilhelm University of Berlin, the University of Graz and the University of Würzburg, where he received his doctorate 1887. In 1889, he finished his habilitation at Leipzig University.