C10 - Using Resources Flashcards
Define a natural resource
Natural resources form without any human input
Define finite resources
Finite resources can’t form quickly enough to be considered replaceable.
Define sustainable development
An approach to development that takes into account the needs of people today without damaging the lives of future generations
What is a life cycle assessment?
A life cycle assessment is carried out to assess the environmental impact of a product in each stage of its life from start to end.
What are the 5 stages of life cycle assessments?
1) extracting
2) manufacturing
3) transportation / distribution
4) use of product
5) disposal of product
Define potable water
water that is safe to drink (not pure)
What are pros and cons of desalination?
+ good for countries with a lack of water supply
- requires lots of energy
Describe the process of desalination
- salt water is heated
- water evaporates at 100 ℃
- water vapour rises and travels to condenser
- water vapour cools and condenses
- forms pure potable water
Describe the 3 main steps in the ground water method for getting potable water
- sedimentation of small particles (settle at the bottom of the water)
- filter out the sand and gravel
- sterilisation to kill harmful bacteria/microbes
What can you use to sterilise?
- chlorine
- ultraviolet light
- ozone
What are pros and cons of the ground water method?
+ not many steps
+ doesn’t require lots of energy
- requires a suitable water source
Describe the main steps of the waste treatment method of obtaining potable water
- screened - large objects and grit are filtered out
- sedimentation - heavy solids move to the bottom, forming a sludge and lighter effluent floats on top
- aerobic digestion of effluent - effluent is broken down by bacteria
- anaerobic digestion of sludge - sludge is broken down by bacteria
What are some pros and cons of waste treatment?
+ reuses waste water
+ uses less energy than desalination
- requires several steps
- may require additional treatment (which involves harmful chemicals)
What 2 things influence a property of a polymer?
- which monomers they’re made from
- the conditions used to make them
Describe low density polyethene
- made from ethene
- at a moderate temperature under high pressure
- flexible - good for bags and bottles
Describe high density polyethene
- made from ethene
- at lower temperature and pressure
- rigid - used for drainpipes
Describe thermosoftening polymers
- contain individual polymer chains intertwined together (weak forces)
- can melt
- can be recycled
Describe thermosetting polymers
- contains monomers that can form cross links between the polymer chains - hold the chains together in a solid structure
- can’t melt - just burns
- can’t be recycled
What are ceramics?
non-metal solids with high melting points that aren’t made from carbon-based compounds
Name the 2 types of glass
- soda lime
- borosilicate
Describe soda lime glass
- made from sand, sodium carbonate and calcium carbonate
- used for windows, containers etc.
- most common type of glass