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Nernsts

Nernsts is a surname of German origin. The best known bearer is Walther Nernst (1864–1941), a German physical chemist and physicist who helped establish the foundations of electrochemistry and thermodynamics. Nernst formulated the Nernst equation, which expresses the relationship between the redox potential of a reaction and temperature, pressure, and activities of the reacting species; it remains central to electrochemical analysis and battery science. He also contributed to the development of the third law of thermodynamics, known as the Nernst theorem, which states that the entropy of a perfect crystal approaches zero as temperature approaches absolute zero. For his work in thermochemistry, Nernst received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1920.

The name Nernst is most strongly associated with Walther, and other individuals bearing the surname are less

prominent
in
standard
reference
sources.
In
scientific
usage,
terms
such
as
the
Nernst
equation,
Nernst–Planck
equation,
and
the
Nernst
effect
commemorate
his
contributions.
The
plural
form
Nernsts
may
be
encountered
in
biographical
or
historical
contexts
when
referring
collectively
to
people
with
this
surname,
though
in
practice
the
name
is
used
mainly
in
singular
form
when
referring
to
Walther
Nernst.