C: using resources: water

• What are the primary uses of Earth's resources in sustainable development?

  To provide warmth, shelter, food, and transport
• How do natural resources contribute to human needs?

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

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

  Chemistry improves agricultural and industrial processes to provide new products and support sustainable development
• What is sustainable development?

  Development that meets the needs of current generations without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs
• What are renewable energy resources?

  Sources of power that quickly replenish themselves
• Under what condition can plants/wood be considered renewable energy resources?

  They must continue to be re-planted
• What is potable water?

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

  Because it contains dissolved substances but must have low levels of dissolved salts and microbes to be safe
• What factors influence the methods used to produce potable water?

  The available supplies of water and local conditions
• What are the steps to produce potable water in the UK?

  1. Select an appropriate source of fresh water (e.g., rainwater)
  2. Pass the water through filter beds to remove insoluble solids
  3. Sterilize the water to kill microbes using agents like ozone, UV light, or chlorine
• What is required if only salty/sea water is available for drinking?

  Desalination
• What are the two methods of desalination mentioned?

  Distillation and processes with membranes (e.g., reverse osmosis)
• What is a disadvantage of desalination methods?


  They are very expensive
• Why is water of the correct quality essential for life?

  It must be free of poisonous salts and harmful microbes
• What are the steps involved in producing correct quality water from wastewater treatment?

  1. Pass water through a mesh screen to remove large bits
  2. Add chemicals to make solids and microbes stick together to form sediment
  3. Anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge
  4. Sterilize with chlorine to kill remaining microbes
• Why is it cheaper and easier to obtain potable water from groundwater and wastewater?

  Because it is less expensive than desalinating salt water
• What is the status of Earth's resources of metal ores?

  They are limited
• What is happening to copper ores?

  Copper ores are becoming scarce
• What are two new methods of extracting copper from low-grade ores?

  Phytomining and bioleaching
• What is phytomining?


  A method that uses plants to absorb metal compounds
• What happens to plants in phytomining after they absorb metal compounds?

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


  A method that uses bacteria to produce leachate solutions containing metal compounds
• How can metal compounds obtained from bioleaching be processed?

  They can be processed to obtain the metal
• How can copper be obtained from solutions of copper compounds?

  By displacement using scrap iron or by electrolysis