C10: Using Resources Flashcards
What is a finite resource?
A natural resource that will run out eventually. They don’t form quick enough to be replaceable. These are non-renewed.
Give 3 examples of finite resources.
Fossil fuels
Nuclear fuels
Mineral and metal ores
What is sustainable development?
Development that takes into account the needs of present society while not damaging the lives of future generations.
How can extracting resources be unsustainable?
Because of the amount of energy that is used and the waste that is produced.
Describe bioleaching.
Bacteria are used to convert the copper compounds in the ore into solvable copper compounds, separating copper from the ore in the process. The leachate (solution produced) is rich in copper ions. It can then be extracted by electrolysis or a displacement reaction.
Describe phytomining.
Plants are grown in soil containing copper. The plants can’t use or get rid of the copper so store it in their leaves. The plants are harvested, dried and burned in a furnace. The ash contains solvable copper compounds from which copper can be extracted using electrolysis or a displacement reaction.
Why is recycling metal better than extracting metals from the ground?
Uses less energy
Conserves finite resource
Reduces waste
How can glass recycling help sustainability?
Reduces energy needed to make new glass
Reduces waste produced when glass is thrown away
How is glass recycled?
Separated into different colours and chemical composition
Crushed and melted to be reshaped
What is a life cycle assessment?
An assessment on every stage of a product’s life to find the impact it would have on the environment.
What makes up a life cycle assessment?
Getting the raw material
Manufacture and packaging
Using the product
Product disposal
What is the difference between pure and potable water?
Potable means it is safe to drink whereas pure water is only made up of water molecules.
How is fresh surface and ground water purified?
Filtration: filtered through mesh to remove large items. Filtered through sand and gravel beds to remove any other solids.
Sterilisation: bacteria and microbes are killed. Done by bubbling chlorine gas through it or using ozone or ultraviolet light.
How is sea water purified?
Distillation: water is boiled off and collected leaving salt behind.
Reverse osmosis: water is passed through a membrane. Ions and other larger molecules are trapped and only the water molecules can pass through.
Describe how sewage is treated.
- Screening: Sewage is screened to remove large objects and grit.
- Sedimentation: Sewage is left to stand where heavy suspended solids sink to the bottom. This produces sludge. The lighter effluent floats to the top.
- Aerobic digestion: The effluent water is removed from the settlement tank. Air is pumped through to encourage aerobic bacteria to break down any other organic matter.
- Anaerobic digestion: The left over sludge is transferred into tanks. Any organic matter gets broken down by bacteria. This produces methane which can be collected and used as a fuel. The remaining digested waste can be used as a fertiliser.
- Water is released back into the environment.
What is bronze made from?
copper and tin
What is brass made from?
copper and zinc
What is the word equation for the rusting of iron?
iron + oxygen + water -> hydrated iron (III) oxide
Why doesn’t aluminium corrode completely?
when it is exposed to air it forms an aluminium oxide layer on the surface which prevents whats underneath form corroding.
Describe the reactants and products of the Haber process.
nitrogen reacts with hydrogen to make ammonia.
What are the conditions used in the Haber process
450 degrees Celsius
200 times atmospheric pressure
3:1 H2 to N2 ratio
iron catalyst
What are the 3 main elements in fertilisers?
nitrogen
phosphorus
potassium
