using resources

• What do we use Earth's resources for?

  Warmth, shelter, food, and transport
• How do natural resources supplement agriculture?

  They provide food, timber, clothing, and fuels
• What are finite resources?

  Resources with a limited supply that will run out
• What role does chemistry play in sustainable development?

  It improves agricultural and industrial processes
• What is sustainable development?

  Development meeting current needs without compromising future needs
• What are renewable energy resources?

  Sources of power that quickly replenish themselves
• When do plants/wood count as renewable resources?

  When they continue to be re-planted
• What is potable water?

  Water that is safe to drink
• Why is potable water not considered 'pure'?

  It contains dissolved substances but is safe
• What must potable water have to be safe?

  Low levels of dissolved salts and microbes
• What factors influence the methods used to produce potable water?

  Available water supplies and local conditions
• What is an appropriate source of fresh water in the UK?

  Rainwater collected in ground/rivers/lakes
• What is the purpose of filter beds in water treatment?

  To remove different sized insoluble solids
• What is the purpose of sterilising water?

  To kill microbes in the water
• What agents can be used for sterilising water?

  Ozone, UV light, or chlorine
• What is required if only salty/sea water is available?

  Desalination is required
• What are two methods of desalination?

  Distillation and reverse osmosis
• Why are desalination methods considered expensive?

  They require significant energy and resources
• Why is correct quality water essential for life?

  It must be free of poisonous salts and harmful microbes
• What are the steps to produce correct quality water?

  1. Pass water through a mesh screen
  2. Add chemicals to form sediment
  3. Anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge
  4. Sterilise with chlorine
• Why is it cheaper to obtain potable water from groundwater and wastewater?

  It is easier than desalinating seawater
• What is the status of Earth's metal ore resources?

  They are limited
• Why are copper ores becoming scarce?

  Due to over-extraction and limited supply
• What are two new methods of extracting copper from low-grade ores?

  Phytomining and bioleaching
• What is phytomining?

  Using plants to absorb metal compounds
• What happens to plants in phytomining?

  They are harvested and burned to produce ash
• What is bioleaching?

  Using bacteria to produce leachate solutions
• How can metal compounds be processed to obtain metals?

  By displacement using scrap iron or electrolysis
• What is one example of obtaining copper from solutions?

  Using scrap iron or electrolysis
• What is the purpose of life cycle assessments (LCA)?

  To assess environmental impact of products
• What stages are assessed in a life cycle assessment?

  Extracting, manufacturing, use, and disposal
• Which stage involves extracting and processing raw materials?

  First stage of life cycle assessment
• What is included in the disposal stage of a product's life cycle?

  Transport and distribution at end of life
• What aspects of resource use can be easily quantified?

  Water, resources, energy, and waste production
• Why is allocating numerical values to pollutant effects challenging?

  It requires value judgments and is subjective
• What are selective or abbreviated LCAs?

  Evaluations of a product that can be misused
• How can reducing resource use impact the environment?

  It reduces waste and environmental impacts
• What materials are produced from limited raw materials?

  Metals, glass, building materials, and plastics
• What is a consequence of quarrying and mining?

  It causes environmental impacts
• Which product can be reused according to the material?

  Glass bottles