Physical chemistry classroom time

A physical chemistry instructor is faced with a number of decisions the goals and objectives of the course, the level of presentation, the choice of textbook, what topics to include, the sequence of topics, the balance between fundamentals and applications, the amount of homework to assign, the use of classroom time, and so forth. Of the students in the class, only a small fraction might intend to become physical chemists. The physical chemistry instructor must make his or her decisions in this context. 

Due to element formation in stars, the abundances of the isotopes in our Galaxy have evolved over time. While study of this evolution can be an excellent classroom activity for illustrating principles of chemistry, astronomy, and nuclear physics, it requires a number of complicated ingredients. We are developing some online tools for investigating these inputs and for demonstrating the chemical evolution of the Galaxy. We recommend that persons interested in these tools subscribe visit www.webnucleo.org for more information. 

As authors, we want this text to be a central, indispensable learning tool for students. Whether as a physical book or in electronic form, it can be carried everywhere and used at any time. It is the one place students can go to obtain the information outside of the classroom needed for learning, skill development, reference, and test preparation. The text, more effectively than any other instrument, provides the depth of coverage and coherent background in modern chemistry that students need to serve their professional interests and, as appropriate, to prepare for more advanced chemistry courses. 

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