Physical chemistry teaching

In 1893, Charles Friedel sought to persuade his Sorbonne colleagues of the need to teach physical chemistry, saying that there are new theories and new needs in the teaching of chemistry each day "this is especially true for phenomena on the boundaries of chemistry and physics, and where considerations of the chemical molecule intervene, which appears to be, in a lot of cases at least, identifical with the physical molecule [my emphasis], "Rapport par Charles Friedel," 109110, in Pieces-annexes Proces-Verbaux de la Faculte des Sciences de Paris, dated June 1893. 

Advances in teaching physical chemistry / Mark D. Ellison, editor, Tracy A. Schoolcraft, editor sponsored by the Divisions of Chemical Education, Inc. and Physical Chemistry. 

Few would be surprised with an answer of NO to the title question. Moreover, the answer no leaves us with the opportunity for discussion, agreements and disagreements. This article is a collection of impressions/recollections gathered from teaching physical chemistry for more than 35 years. To inform you of the background for my impressions and probable bias, some personal data is included at the end of this article. 

Clearly you, the readers, have some background teaching physical chemistry and your background will undoubtedly influence your view of my comments. Do you teach ... 

The theme of my comments is that whatever your answers to the questions posed above, you cannot teach physical chemistry without taking into account your environment, that is, the context in which you teach. Moreover, you need to take into account your students and their preparation. But today, often overlooked are the constraints of your departmental and institutional goals and the goal for what future you are preparing your students. 

You have a lot of decisions to make in teaching physical chemistry. The most important decisions involve achieving the course objectives and fitting the... 

---