chemistry topic 4

• why do recycle metals

  bc the demand for metals are increasing and we don't have an infinite supply
• How can many metals be recycled?

  They can be melted down and turned into something new.
• What are the main advantages of recycling?

  - less damage to the environment - mining- damaging, ugly + landfill pollute

  - conserves resources + energy - lots of energy needed to extract comes from fossil fuels- finite + climate change. saves energy

  - economic benefits - saves money, creates lots of jobs
• What are the disadvantages of recycling?

  - High costs and energy used in collecting, transporting and sorting metals to be recycled.

  - Sometimes it can be more expensive and require more energy to recycle than to extract new metal from an ore.
• What is a life cycle assessment?

  An assessment carried out to work out and evaluate the environmental impact of a product.
• What does a life cycle assessment help people to do?

  To decide whether it's worthwhile to manufacture and recycle a product. Also, to compare the effect of using different materials for the same product; for example making a bottle from glass or plastic.
• What are the seven main questions to be asked when doing a life cycle assessment?

  - What raw materials are needed?

  - How are the raw materials processed?

  - How much energy is needed for the manufacture and packaging of the product?

  - Where will the energy come from?

  - What will the product be used for?

  - How will the product be disposed of?
• What are the four stages of a life cycle assessment?e.g metal

  1) choice of material- looks at where it comes from - mining. energy used to extract

  2) Manufacturing and packaging the product- need to be think about disposing the product + if its polluting the environment

  3) Using the product- can this damage the environment?

  4) Disposal of the product- landfill?- take up space burnt? both pollute