using earths resources

• What do we use the Earth's resources for?

  Warmth, fuel, shelter, food, and transport
• What are natural resources used for?

  Food, timber, clothes, and fuels
• What are synthetic resources?

  Resources made by scientists to replace natural ones
• What is sustainable development?

  Development meeting current needs without compromising future generations
• What does finite mean in terms of resources?

  Resources that will eventually run out
• Why are fossil fuels considered finite?

  They take too long to form compared to usage
• What are renewable resources?

  Resources that won’t run out
• How can wood be considered a renewable resource?

  Trees can be grown to replace those cut down
• What is potable water?

  Water that is safe to drink
• What is pure water composed of?

  Just water molecules
• What does potable water contain?

  Water molecules, low salt, safe microbes
• What is salty water composed of?

  Water molecules and high salt levels
• What is freshwater composed of?

  Water molecules and low salt levels
• How is potable water produced in the UK?

  From rainwater collected in lakes and rivers
• What are the steps to produce potable water?

  1. Choose an appropriate source of freshwater
  2. Filter the water to remove large objects
  3. Sterilize the water using ozone, chlorine, or UV light
• What is desalination?

  Turning seawater into potable water
• What are two methods of desalination?

  Distillation and reverse osmosis
• What does reverse osmosis involve?

  Using membranes to separate dissolved salts
• What is a challenge of reverse osmosis?

  Salty water can corrode the pumps
• What produces a lot of wastewater?

  Sewage, agricultural waste, and industrial waste
• What do sewage and agricultural waste contain?

  Organic matter and harmful microbes
• What does industrial waste contain?

  Organic matter and harmful chemicals
• What are the steps in treating sewage water?

  1. Screening and grit removal
  2. Sedimentation to settle solid sediments
• What is sewage sludge?

  Solid sediment from treated sewage
• What is anaerobic treatment?

  Bacteria digest organic matter with limited oxygen
• What is biogas?

  A mixture of methane, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide
• What happens to remaining sludge?

  It can be dried and burnt as fuel
• What is effluent?

  The remaining liquid after sewage treatment
• What is aerobic treatment?

  Bacteria break down matter with oxygen present
• What happens to bacteria in effluent treatment?

  Bacteria are allowed to settle out of the water
• What is the purpose of discharging treated water back to rivers?

  To release safe water into the environment
• What are metals used for?

  Many different applications
• How can metals be extracted from ores?

  By reduction or electrolysis
• Why are metal ores considered finite resources?

  They require a lot of energy to extract
• What are phytomining and bioleaching?

  Alternative processes to extract copper sustainably
• What are the steps in phytomining?

  1. Grow plants near the metal ore
  2. Harvest and burn plants
  3. Process ash for metal compounds
• What are the steps in bioleaching?

  1. Grow bacteria near the metal ore
  2. Bacteria produce leachate solutions
  3. Process leachate for metal compounds
• What is the advantage of phytomining and bioleaching?

  They avoid traditional mining's environmental impact
• What are the disposal options for products?

  • Added to landfill
  • Incinerated
  • Reused
  • Recycled
• What is a disadvantage of landfilling products?

  It can cause habitat loss and pollution