using resources

• What do humans use the Earth's natural resources for?

  Energy, building materials, food, fuels, clothing
• Why is the rapid growth of the human population concerning regarding Earth's resources?

  It leads to unsustainable resource consumption
• What is meant by sustainable resource use?

  Future generations can meet their own needs
• What are finite resources?

  Resources that will eventually run out
• Where do finite resources come from?

  Earth's crust, oceans, and atmosphere
• What is crude oil classified as?

  One of the most important finite resources
• How is crude oil processed to produce useful chemicals?

  Through fractional distillation and cracking
• What can sometimes supplement or replace natural products?

  Agricultural and synthetic products
• What were fertilizers obtained from before 1910?

  Natural resources like manure
• What does the Haber process enable humans to produce?

  Fertilizers from nitrogen in the air
• What has allowed intensive farming to become widespread?

  Synthetic fertilizers produced by the Haber process
• How do synthetic fertilizers impact food production?

  They help produce enough food for the population
• What is water that is safe for humans to drink called?

  Potable water
• Why is potable water not considered pure water?

  It contains dissolved impurities
• What must potable water have low levels of?

  Dissolved salts and microbes
• Why can dissolved salts be harmful to humans?

  They can cause health issues
• What can microbes in water cause?

  Illnesses
• What factors influence the methods used to make water potable?

  Location and water source
• Why is it easier to make potable water from fresh water than sea water?

  Fresh water has fewer impurities
• What does desalination require a lot of?

  Energy
• What provides enough fresh water for the UK population?

  Rain
• What happens to water reserves during summer months in the UK?

  They can run low
• How is rainwater collected in the UK?

  In rivers, lakes, and underground rocks
• What is the first step in producing potable water from fresh water?

  Passing through filter beds
• What is used to sterilize water?

  Chlorine, ozone, and ultraviolet light
• What is the process of making potable water from sea water called?

  Desalination
• Why is it preferable to make potable water from fresh water reserves?

  It requires less energy
• How much sodium chloride is present in sea water?

  35 grams per kilogram
• What are the two methods of desalination?

  Distillation and reverse osmosis
• How does distillation work?

  Heats sea water to boil and condense steam
• What is a disadvantage of distillation?

  It requires a lot of energy
• What is a challenge with waste water from distillation?

  It is very salty and hard to dispose of
• How does reverse osmosis work?

  Water is pushed through a membrane under pressure
• What is a disadvantage of reverse osmosis?

  It produces a large volume of waste water
• What must be treated before being released into the environment?

  Waste water
• What are some pollutants found in waste water?

  Human waste, chemicals, and fertilizers
• What does human waste contain that is harmful?

  Harmful bacteria and nitrogen compounds
• What can industrial waste water contain?

  Harmful chemicals like toxic metals
• What might agricultural waste water contain?

  Fertilizers and pesticides
• What are the steps involved in sewage treatment?

  1. Screening and grit removal
  2. Sedimentation to produce sewage sludge and effluent
  3. Anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge
  4. Aerobic treatment of effluent