C10 Using Resources Flashcards
What are natural resources used for?
Natural resources provide warmth, shelter, food, and transport.
Give two examples of natural products that have been supplemented or replaced by synthetic alternatives.
Rubber (natural latex → synthetic rubber) and cotton (natural → polyester).
What is the difference between finite and renewable resources?
Finite resources are non-renewable and will eventually run out (e.g., fossil fuels), whereas renewable resources can be replaced naturally in a short time (e.g., wood, solar energy).
What is potable water?
Potable water is water that is safe to drink but not pure in the chemical sense because it contains dissolved substances.
What are the three main steps in making potable water from fresh water in the UK?
Choosing an appropriate source of fresh water
Passing the water through filter beds
Sterilising using chlorine, ozone, or UV light
What are two methods of desalination?
Distillation and reverse osmosis.
What are the main steps of sewage treatment?
Screening and grit removal
Sedimentation (producing sludge and effluent)
Anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge
Aerobic biological treatment of effluent
What are two alternative methods of extracting metals from low-grade ores?
Phytomining and bioleaching.
How does phytomining work
Plants absorb metal compounds, then they are harvested and burned to produce metal-rich ash.
How does bioleaching work?
Bacteria break down metal compounds in ores, producing a leachate solution that contains the metal.
: What are the four stages of a life cycle assessment (LCA)?
Extracting and processing raw materials
Manufacturing and packaging
Use and operation during its lifetime
Disposal, including transport and distribution at each stage
Why are LCAs sometimes subjective?
Because assigning numerical values to pollutant effects requires value judgments, making it not a purely objective process.
What are three ways to reduce the use of resources?
Reduce, reuse, and recycle.
How can glass be reused and recycled?
It can be washed and reused, or it can be crushed and melted to make new glass products.
How is metal recycled?
Metals are melted and reformed into new products; scrap steel can also be added to iron in a blast furnace to reduce the need for new iron extraction.
