C12- Using resources ♻️

Question 1

What are examples of how humans use resources ?

Answer 1

• humans use resources to:
• provide warmth
• provide shelter
• provide food
• and, provide transport

Question 2

What’s an example of a natural resource, that is supplemented by agricultural products ?

Answer 2

• in agriculture, cotton is produced from cotton plants; modern agriculture allows us to grow enough cotton, to meet the needs of the world

Question 3

What’s an example of a natural resource, that is supplemented by synthetic products ?

Answer 3

• natural rubber comes from the sap of a tree; synthetic rubber can be produced using crude oil

Question 4

What is a finite resource ?

Answer 4

• a finite resource, is a resource that cannot be replenished at the rate which it is used because, it will eventually run out

Question 5

What are finite resources from the Earth, oceans and atmosphere used for ?

Answer 5

• finite resources from the Earth, oceans and atmosphere can be processed to produce energy and materials

Question 6

Why are metals a finite resource ?

Answer 6

• metals are a finite resource because, huge amounts of metal is extracted from the Earth’s crust, which means if metals are contuined to be used at this rate, they will then run out

Question 7

[Easy] What is a renewable resource ?

Answer 7

• a renewable resource, is a resource that can be replenished at the rate which it is used because it will never run out

Question 8

What does ‘sustainable development’ mean ?

Answer 8

• sustainable development, is development that meets the needs of future generations, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Question 9

Name three examples, of how chemistry plays a role in how we use resources ?

Answer 9

• artificial fertilisers allow us to grow more food with the land available
• chemistry allows us to provide water that is safe to drink
• and, processes such as phytomining and bio leaching help us to extract metals more efficiently

Question 10

What type of water can humans drink ?

Answer 10

• humans can only drink water that has sufficiently low levels of dissolved salts [e.g- sodium chloride]
• and, humans can only drink water that dosen’t have high levels of microbes [e.g- bacteria]

Question 11

What is potable water ?

Answer 11

• potable water, is water that is safe to drink

Question 12

What is the difference between pure 🆚 potable water ?

Answer 12

• pure water, is water that contains no dissolved substances at all
• ; potable water, is water that is safe to drink [and contains dissolved substances, in small amounts]

Question 13

Why does rain water provide most of our potable water in the UK ?

Answer 13

• because rain water contains low levels of dissolved substances [freshwater]

Question 14

Where does freshwater collect ?

Answer 14

• freshwater collects in the ground, in aquifers [which is known as groundwater]
• and, rainwater also collects in: lakes, rivers and reservoirs

Question 15

How is potable water produced ?

Answer 15

• an appropriate source of water is chosen [e.g- freshwater from rivers]
• the appropriate source of water is then passed through filter beds, to remove materials [such as leaves and suspended
  particles]
• the appropriate source of water is then sterilised, to remove microbes [by using chlorine, ozone or ultraviolet light]

Question 16

How is water sterilised in the UK ?

Answer 16

• in the UK, water is sterilised by using chlorine

Question 17

Name two ways that saltwater can be treated

Answer 17

• desalination, by using distillation
• and, desalination by using reverse osmosis [when water is passed through membranes]

Question 18

Why might desalination be used ?

Answer 18

• desalination is used in countries where supplies of freshwater are limited [because the only available water may be too salty]

Question 19

How does desalination produce potable water ?

Hint: minerals

Answer 19

• desalination reduces the levels of dissolved minerals, to an acceptable level for potable water

Question 20

Describe the process of reverse osmosis

Answer 20

• water is put under high pressure and passed through a membrane
  which has tiny pores [holes] in it.
• these pores allow water
  molecules through, but prevent most
  ions and molecules from passing through.

Question 21

What is a disadvantage of desalination ?

Answer 21

• desalination is very expensive because, it requires large amounts of energy