Using Resources

• what is sustainable development


  development that meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to also meet their needs
• how is potable water produced in the UK

  • choosing appropriate fresh water sources
  • passing this water through filter beds to get rid of solids
  • sterilising to kill microbes
• what are the sterilising agents for potable water

  • chlorine
  • ozone
  • ultraviolet light
• how is desalination completed


  through distillation or process using membranes (e.g. reverse osmosis)
• what is reverse osmosis

  • sea water is passed through a membrane that will only let water molecules pass
  • requires high pressure
• how is wastewater produced


  through urban lifestyles and industrial processes
• how is wastewater treated

  to get rid of organic matter and harmful microbes + chemicals present
• what are the process of sewage treatment

  • screening + grit removal
  • sedimentation to produce sludge + effluent
  • anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge
  • aerobic biological treatment of effluent
• how is new mining better than traditional methods


  avoids digging + moving +depositing lots of rock
• what is phytomining

  • plants absorb metal compounds from soil
  • plants are harvested + burned
  • the ash from this contains metal compounds
• what is bioleaching

  • bacteria produce leachate solution
  • these solutions contain metal compounds
• what are advantages of using phytomining + bioleaching

  • require less energy
  • work on low conc ores
• what are disadvantages of phytomining + bioleaching

  • only produce low grade ores
  • slow to carry out
• what are the stages of LCAs

  • extracting + processing raw materials
  • manufacturing + processing
  • use during lifetime
  • disposal at the end of useful life
• how do we reduce the usefulness of resources

  • use
  • reuse
  • recyclability
• what are the advantages of recycling

  • less pollution leading to acid rain
  • metal ore reserves last longer
  • conserves energy for extraction
  • landfills create local employment
• what are the disadvantages of recycling

  • collection problems
  • high transport costs
  • difficult to seperate metals from appliances
• what is corrosion

  destruction of materials through chemical reactions with substances in the environment
• how can corrosion be prevented


  applying a barrier coating to stop water + air contacting the metal

  • greasing
  • painting
  • electroplating
• what is the sacrificial protection

  • coatings can be reactive + contain corrosion inhibitors
  • if 2 metals are in contact the more reactive will erode more
• what is bronze + how is it used

  an alloy of copper + tin

  • makes statues + decorative objects
• what is brass + how is it used

  an alloy of copper + zinc

  • produces water taps + door fittings
• what is gold+ how is it used

  an alloy of copper + zinc + silver

  • makes jewellery
• what is aluminium+ how is it used


  a magnesium alloy

  • used in aerospace manufacturing due to low density
• what is steel


  iron alloys
• what are the qualities of high carbon steel

  • strong
  • brittle
• what are the qualities of low carbon steel

  • soft
  • easily shaped
• what are the qualities of steel containing chromium + nickel

  • hard
  • resistant to corrosion
• what determines properties of polymers

  • what monomers they are made from
  • what conditions they are made in
• what is the structure of thermosetting polymers

  • linked through strong cross links
  • don't melt under heat
• what is the structure of thermosoftening polymers

  • monomer molecules are attracted by weak intermolecular forces
  • soften easily under heat
• how is glass made


  most glass is made by heating sand + sodium carbonate + limestone
• how are clay ceramics made

  • shaping wet clay
  • heating it in a furnace
• how are composites formed

  fibres of 1 material are surrounded by a binder holding the fibres together
• what are the stages of the Haber process

  1. purified H2 and N2 pass over an iron catalyst at high temps + pressure
  2. catalyst speeds up process so lower temps can be used
  3. hydrogen + nitrogen to form ammonia
  4. on cooling ammonia liquifies + is removed so remaining H2 + N2 are recycled
  5. ammonia is contained in nitrogen containing fertilisers
• how does the Haber process compromise yield

  • it is an exothermic reaction
  • using a lower temp would therefore provide a higher yield
  • but rates of ammonia production would be too slow
• how does the Haber process compromise rate

  • using higher pressure would provide higher yield
  • would be too expensive to provide this higher pressure however
• how are compounds of nitrogen + phosphorus + potassium used


  fertilisers to improve agricultural productivity
• how are NPK fertiliser produced

  reactions with ammonia and the requisite acid
• how is phosphate rock used to produce fertilisers

  • reacts with nitric acid to produce phosphoric acid + calcium nitrate
  • reacts with sulfuric acid to produce calcium phosphate + calcium sulfate
  • reacts with phosphoric acid to produce calcium phosphate