C12 - The Earth's Resources Flashcards
What are some human uses of Earth’s resources?
Humans use Earth’s resources to provide warmth, shelter, food, and transport.
Define finite resources
Finite resources are those that are being used up faster than they can be replaced. They exist in limited amounts.
Define renewable resources
Renewable resources are those that can be replaced at the same rate at which they are used up.
Give examples of finite resources
Coal, natural gas, crude oil, metal, and nuclear fuels.
Give examples of renewable resources
Cotton, leather, wood, ethanol, and solar power.
How are natural resources supplemented or replaced by agriculture?
Agriculture supplements natural resources by providing additional food, timber, clothing, and fuels using farming techniques. For example, chicken farms provide feed and warmth for chickens, and fertilisers increase wheat crop yields.
Give an example of a finite resource processed for energy and materials.
Crude oil is a finite resource processed into lubricants, detergents, polymer bags, and aircraft fuel.
How do chemists reduce reliance on natural products?
Chemists produce synthetic products to replace or supplement natural products. For example, polyester can replace cotton for clothing, and PVC can replace wood for construction materials.
Define sustainable development
Sustainable development means meeting the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
What role do chemists play in sustainable development?
Chemists find ways to reduce the use of finite resources and provide new synthetic products that replace natural and/or finite resources.
Provide an example of a natural product, its use, and a synthetic product that replaces or supplements it.
Natural product: Cotton (used for clothing); Synthetic product: Polyester. Natural product: Wood (used for construction); Synthetic product: PVC.
Why is it important to reduce the use of finite resources?
Finite resources are limited and cannot be replenished. If we use them up, future generations will not have access to them.
What is the benefit of using synthetic products instead of natural ones?
Synthetic products help conserve natural resources, reduce environmental impact, and provide sustainable alternatives for various applications.
What are the different types of water?
Pure Water: 100% water
- Potable Water: Safe to drink
- Sea Water: Contains lots of dissolved substances
- Waste Water: From homes, industry, and agriculture
- Fresh Water: Found in lakes, rivers, ice caps, glaciers, underground streams, and aquifers
- Ground Water: Located in underground streams and aquifers
How do different types of water compare in terms of levels of dissolved substances?
- Pure: No
- Potable: Low Levels
- Fresh: Low Levels
- Ground: Low Levels
- Sea: High Levels
- Waste: High Levels
How do different types of water compare in terms of microbes content?
- Pure: No
- Potable: No/Low
- Fresh: Very Low (Some Sources)
- Ground: Yes
- Sea: Yes
- Waste: Yes
How Is Fresh Water Made Potable?
1.
Filtration: Removes solids by passing water through filter beds (usually sand).
2.
Sterilisation: Kills microbes using one of the following methods:
- Adding chlorine
- Treating with ozone
- Using UV light
What Are the Desalination Methods for Sea Water?
- Distillation: Boiling water and condensing the steam to remove salts.
- Reverse Osmosis: Forcing water through a membrane that removes salts and impurities.
How Is Waste Water Treated?
Removes contaminants from water used in homes, industry, and agriculture.
Treatment typically involves physical, chemical, and biological processes to make the water safe to return to the environment or for reuse.
