# Walther Nernst

_German physical chemist and physicist (1864–1941)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/walther-nernst
Last updated: 2026-11-07

> Walther Hermann Nernst 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.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 25 June 1864 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57125#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Wąbrzeźno ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57125#P19))
- **Died:** 18 November 1941 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57125#P570))
- **Place of death:** Bad Muskau ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57125#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Kingdom of Prussia; Weimar Republic ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57125#P27))
- **Occupation:** chemist; physicist; university teacher; physical chemist ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57125#P106))
- **Education:** University of Zurich; University of Graz; Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin; University of Würzburg; Leipzig University ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57125#P69))
- **Spouse:** Emma Lohmeyer ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57125#P26))
- **Official website:** nernst.de ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57125#P856))
- **Awards:** Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts order; Nobel Prize in Chemistry; National Inventors Hall of Fame; Bunsen Medal; Franklin Medal; Foreign Member of the Royal Society; Silliman Memorial Lectures; Pour le Mérite; honorary member of the Physics Association (Frankfurt am Main, Germany) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57125#P166))

## Questions

**When was Walther Nernst born?**  
Walther Nernst was born on 25 June 1864 in Wąbrzeźno.

**Where did Walther Nernst study?**  
Walther Nernst was educated at University of Zurich, University of Graz, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, University of Würzburg.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Walther Nernst](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walther_Nernst) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q57125](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57125) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Walther Nernst 1900s.jpg by Unknown (Mondadori Publishers) (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Walther_Nernst_1900s.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Walther Nernst, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Walther Nernst 1900s.jpg — Unknown (Mondadori Publishers), Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Walther Nernst". DigiNepal. Last updated 7 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/walther-nernst. Retrieved 15 November 2026.