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Medical Definition of Nernst's equation
1. The equation relating the equilibrium potential of electrodes to ion concentrations; the equation relating the electrical potential and concentration gradient of an ion across a permeable membrane at equilibrium: E = [RT / nF Origin: Ln (C1/C 2)], where E = potential, R = absolute gas constant, T = absolute temperature, n = valence, F = the Faraday, ln = the natural logarithm, and C1 and C2 are the ion concentrations on the two sides; in nonideal solutions, concentration should be replaced by activity. See: Nernst's theory, activity. (05 Mar 2000)