Walther Nernst: Pioneer of Physics, And of Chemistry

Contents......Page 10
Preface......Page 6
1. Development of Physics and Physical Chemistry from about 1800 until 1870......Page 14
2.1 Ancestors and Parents......Page 22
2.2 Youth and High School in Graudenz......Page 23
2.3 University Studies in Zurich and Berlin......Page 29
2.4.1 University and physics in Graz: Ludwig Boltzmann and Albert von Ettingshausen......Page 32
2.4.2 The Ettingshausen-Nernst effects and the Nernst effect......Page 39
2.5 Conclusion of the University Studies in Wurzburg......Page 43
3. Habilitation in Leipzig (1887 - 1889)......Page 48
3.1 The Sciences at the University of Leipzig......Page 49
3.2 Wilhelm Ostwald......Page 51
3.3 The Completion of the Thermodynamics of Electro chemistry: The Nernst Equation......Page 53
3.4 The “Ionists” versus the “Anti-Ionists”......Page 64
4 . The Gottingen Period: The Rise to World Fame (1890 – 1905)......Page 70
4.1 The Georgia Augusta University in Gottingen......Page 71
4.2 Eduard Riecke, Felix Klein, and Mathematics in Gottingen......Page 72
4.3 Early Studies in Gottingen: The Nemst Distribution Law......Page 75
4.4 Marriage with Emma Lohmeyer and the Walther Nernst Family......Page 81
4.5 The Textbook “Theoretical Chemistry from the Stand- point of Avogadro’s Rule and Themodynamics”......Page 86
4.6 The First Professorship and the Establishment of a Chair of Physical Chemistry......Page 93
4.7 The New Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electro- chemistry......Page 101
4.8 Studies and Members in the New Institute......Page 109
4.9 The Nernst Lamp......Page 117
4.10 Nemst Law of Electrical Nerve Stimulus Threshold (Reizschwellengesetz)......Page 127
4.11 The Construction of Instruments......Page 130
4.12 Mathematics and Chemistry......Page 139
5.1 The Friedrich-Wilhelm University and Other Academic Institutions in Berlin and Charlottenburg......Page 146
5.2 The Famous Year 1905......Page 152
5.3 The lnstitute of Physical Chemistry at the University of Berlin......Page 155
5.4 The First Lecture in Berlin - Announcement of a Fun- damental Law of Nature......Page 159
5.5.1 Remarks on the First and Second Law of Thermo- dynamics......Page 163
5.5.2 The problem and its solution given by Nernst......Page 167
5.5.3 The calculation of chemical equilibria......Page 178
5.5.4 Specific heats and low-temperature physics......Page 182
5.5.5 Quantum Theory......Page 190
5.5.6 The impossibility of reaching the absolute zero of temperature......Page 197
5.5.7 Formulation of the Third Thermal Law by Max Planck......Page 200
5.5.8 Research between 1906 and 1916, the monograph, and the Nobel Prize in Chemistry......Page 202
5.5.9 Critique and priority conflict......Page 208
5.6 Other Scientific Studies during this Period......Page 211
5.7.1 Kaiser Wilhelm Institutes......Page 219
5.7.2 German Electrochemical Society......Page 226
5.7.3 Other developments......Page 231
5.7.4 Rector of the University and the Institute for Foreigners......Page 236
5.8 Managing a Country Estate, Hunting, and Fish Farming......Page 242
5.9 The First World War......Page 249
5.9.1 War-related research: gas warfare, explosives, bal- listics......Page 250
5.9.2 The effort on peace negotiations......Page 261
5.10 Political Activities......Page 270
5.11 Visits to the USA and to South America......Page 273
6.1 Brief History of the PTR......Page 280
6.2 Activities of Nernst at the PTR......Page 286
7. Professor of Experimental Physics at the University of Berlin (1924 - 1933)......Page 296
7.1 Solutions of Strong Electrolytes......Page 300
7.2 Vibrating Strings and the Neo-Bechstein Grand Piano......Page 305
7.3 Studies in Cosmology and Astrophysics......Page 319
8.1 Attitude to the Fascism......Page 340
8.2 An Attempt to Participate in the War-Related Research during the Second World War......Page 348
8.3 The End in the Village of Zibelle......Page 350
9. Honors and Memorials......Page 354
References......Page 360
Name Index......Page 386