title: Walther Nernst and the development of physical chemistry.
abstract: A commemorative symposium took place on the 16th June 2014 in the Magnus House in Berlin on the occasion of the 150th birthday of Walter Nernst. This Essay outlines the important stages in his life and consider the main features in the development of the discipline cofounded by him.
authors.affiliation: Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Faradayweg 4-6, 14195 Berlin (Germany). ertl@fhi-berlin.mpg.de.
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ertl
keywords: Nernst, Walter; physical chemistry; science history; thermodynamics