Using Resources Flashcards

1
Q

What are natural resources?

A

We get natural resources from the environment and they provide us shelter, food, warmth, etc.

They can be living, (plants and animals)

They can be non-living (water, minerals, fossil fuels, air, etc)

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2
Q

Example of a natural resource which can be replaced synthetically

A

RUBBER can be extracted from the sap of trees and is a natural product that can be REPLACED BY A SYNTHETIC ONE, which are polymers designed to specifically replace the rubber

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3
Q

What are renewable resources?

A

Resources which can be replenished or replaced in a finite time

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4
Q

What are non-renewable resources?

A

Resources which cannot be replenished and are replaced not at all or not quickly enough

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5
Q

What is potable water?

A

Water that has been processed and is safe for human consumption and daily use

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6
Q

What is the difference between potable water and pure water?

A

Pure water consists only of H2O molecules, but potable water may consist of different substances, such as dissolved minerals.

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7
Q

What characteristics should potable water have?

A
  • It must have a pH between 6.5 and 8.5
  • The dissolved substances will be present in very small regulated quantities
  • Be free of bacteria or potentially harmful microbes
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8
Q

What is surface water?

A

Water which is collected in reservoirs, lakes and rivers

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9
Q

What is groundwater?

A

Groundwater is water that is stored underground in POROUS rocks called AQUIFIERS

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10
Q

What are aquifiers?

A

Porous rocks which store water underground

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11
Q

What are two important steps to make sure GROUNDWATER is potent?

A

Filtration - where debris such as soil and dirt and maybe small pebbles are removed by a WIRE MESH, then smaller debris is filtered through sand beds and gravel

Sterilisation - UV light and ozone is used to sterilise water or chlorine gas is bubbled through the water to remove bacteria or microbes

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12
Q

What is a treatment for water in the case where aquifers are not present or if the collection of surface water is limited?

A

DESALINATION - Involves the treatment of seawater to remove the salt by DISTILLATION or REVERSE OSMOSIS

When salt water is put through a semi-permeable membrane, only water molecules can pass through it, which separates the two

However desalination is a very expensive process and it consumes large amounts of energy and is not ideal when producing large quantities of fresh water

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13
Q

What is Required Practical 8(a)?

A

Analysis & Purification of Water Samples

Objective - to determine the mass of dissolved substance in samples of water

Hypothesis - Analysis of the pH and dissolved solids of water samples can help determine the regions the water comes from

Method:

  1. Use the universal indicator paper to determine the pH of the water sample
  2. Accurately weigh an empty evaporating basin to two decimal places
  3. Add 25 cm3of water sample A into the evaporating basin
  4. Heat the evaporating basin on a tripod and gauze using a Bunsen burner until the solids start to form and the majority of water has evaporated
  5. Weigh the cooled evaporating basin again and calculate the mass of the solids that were dissolved in the water.

Evaluation:
The results could be compared to the national water safety levels and by analysis the regions of each sample could be deducted e.g. region of high acid rain, water from a salt water supply etc.

Conclusion:
The amount of dissolved solids in water can be determined and is a useful indicator of water quality

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14
Q

What is Required Practical 8(b)?

A

To purify a Water Sample by Distillation

Objective - To separate pure clean water from a sample containing water and other substances

Hypothesis - A simple distillation apparatus can be set up to separate pure water from a mixture of water and unwanted substances

Method:

  1. Add the water sample to the conical flask and set up the apparatus for distillation as shown in the diagram
  2. Heat the water using the Bunsen burner until boiling occurs
  3. Reduce the heat so that the water boils gently for some time
  4. The distilled water will collect in the cooled test tube
  5. Collect about 2 cm depth of water in this way, then stop heating
  6. Analyse the water you have distilled by determining its boiling point

Evaluation:
The pH of the water can be tested as well as its boiling point

Conclusion:
Simple distillation can be used to produce pure water from a sample of impure or contaminated water

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15
Q

Where can waste water come from?

A

From domestic and agricultural sewers, animal farms and nutrient run-off collected from fields, etc

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16
Q

How is sewage treated?

A
  • Screening & Grit removal
  • Sedimentation
  • Aerobic digestion
  • Anaerobic digestion
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17
Q

What is screening and grit removal?

A

The first stage of treatment of sewage waste water

Involves the removal of large materials such as plastic bags or twigs

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18
Q

What is sedimentation?

A

Sedimentation is the second stage of treatment

It occurs in a SETTLEMENT TANK, where the water is allowed to stay still in the tank while heavier solids SINK to to the bottom

The lighter matter called EFFLUENT floats to the top

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19
Q

What is aerobic digestion?

A

Third stage of treatment of sewage waste water

The effluent is REMOVED and treated by biological aerobic digestion

This involves pumping air into the water to encourage the breakdown of organic matter and other microbes by aerobic bacteria

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20
Q

What is anaerobic digestion?

A

The last stage of the treatment of sewage waste water

Breaks down the sludge from the BOTTOM of the settlement tank where SEDIMENTATION OCCURED

It is firstly removed and placed in large tanks where bacteria break it down

Anaerobic digestion releases methane gas as a by product from the organic matter in the sludge, which is used as a source of energy and the leftover digested waste is used as a fertiliser

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21
Q

What happens when there are extra toxic substances in the water?

A

Additional phases of treatment, such as membranes or additional chemicals or UV radiation

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22
Q

Does desalination use more energy than cleaning sewage waste?

A

No, desalination involves more energy despite waste water treatment being a longer process

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23
Q

What are some biological processes of extracting metals from their ores?

A

BIOLEACHING and PHYTOMINING

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24
Q

What is Phytomining?

A

Some plants absorb metal through their roots, so these plants are grown in areas KNOWN to contain metals of interest in the soil.

As the plants grow, these metals are taken up through the plants’ vascular system and become concentrated in specific parts such as their shoots or leaves.

These parts of the plant are harvested, dried and burned

The resulting ash contains metal compounds from which the useful metals can be extracted by displacement reactions or electrolysis

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25
Q

What is bioleaching?

A

A technique that uses bacteria to extract metal from its ores.

Some strains of bacteria break down ores to form acidic solutions containing metal ions

This solution is called a LEACHATE which contains significant quantities of metal ions

These ions can then be REDUCED to the solid metal form and extracted by displacement reactions or electrolysis

It does NOT require high temperatures but it does produce TOXIC SUBSTANCES which need to be treated so they dont contaminate the environment.

Bioleaching is not only used for the primary extraction of metals but it is also used in mining waste clean up operations

26
Q

What is the life cycle assessment?

A

An analysis of the overall environmental impact that a product may have throughout its lifetime

Broken down into 4 main stages - Raw materials, manufacture, usage and disposal

27
Q

How does obtaining raw materials harm the environment (LCA)?

A

Using up limited resources such as ores and crude oil

Damaging habitats through deforestation or mining

28
Q

How does manufacturing have an impact on the environment (LCA)?

A

Using land for factories

Fossil fuel machines emitting harmful gases

29
Q

How does the usage of a product harm the environment (LCA)?

A

(depending on the product) A car could impact the environment massively through erosion of land and emissions f harmful gases whereas a table wouldn’t do much harm at all

30
Q

How does the disposal of a product have an impact on the environment (LCA)?

A

It could use up space at landfill sites

It could be littered and destroy habitats if not biodegradable

May not be recyclable

31
Q

LCA of a plastic bag

A

Raw materials - Crude oil, finite resource, lots of energy to process

Manufacture - Fractional distillation, cracking, polymerisation, not much waste, cheap to manufacture

Usage - Reusable

Disposal - Can be recycled, often littered, not biodegradable, takes up space in landfill

32
Q

LCA of paper bag

A

Raw materials - From trees, deforestation

Manufacture - Pulping requires lots of energy, lots of waste products

Usage - Not reusable (mostly)

Disposal - Biodegradable, can be recycled, non-toxic

33
Q

How can we maximise efficiency of products after use?

A

Reuse and recycle after use

34
Q

Advantages of recycling

A
  • Economically beneficial to recycle some metals such as ALUMINIUM
  • Becoming a major industry and provides employment
  • Raw materials are being used up and soon there will be very little in the future so recycling is crucial for sustainable development
35
Q

Is it better to mine or recycle metals?

A

Mining and extracting metals from their ores has detrimental effects of the environment and ecosystems.

So it is much more energy efficient to recycle metals than it is to extract them (melting and remoulding is less expensive)

36
Q

Disadvantages of recycling

A
  • Collection of the materials via transport requires energy and fuel
  • Materials need to be sorted before recycling which requires labour and energy
37
Q

What is degradation of metals?

A

When metals react with substances when exposed to the environment for prolonged periods of time, called CORROSION on the SURFACE of the metal ONLY

38
Q

What must be present for rusting to occur?

A

Oxygen and water must be present for rusting to occur

39
Q

What is rusting?

A

A chemical reaction between iron, water and oxygen to form the compound Iron (III) Oxide

It occurs faster in SALTY WATERS since the presence of NaCl catalyses the process

40
Q

Why is rusting bad for industry?

A

Rust weakens metals because it flakes off the surface of iron easily which exposes the underneath iron to rust, etc, causing chain reactions whereby the structure becomes weaker

41
Q

What happens when aluminium reacts with oxygen?

A

Produces Al2O3, which forms a tough protective layer covering the aluminium, preventing further corrosion

42
Q

What does a nail rust the best in (practical)?

A

Air and water, because they are both required for rusting to occur

43
Q

What are some rusting prevention methods?

A

Galvanising and Sacrificial protection

44
Q

What is galvanising?

A

A process where the iron is coated with a layer of zinc.

ZnCO3 is formed when zinc reacts with oxygen and CO2, which protects the iron by the barrier method

Zinc loses electrons more easily, so the iron stays protected as it accepts the electrons released by zinc, remaining in the reduced state and this it does not undergo oxidation

45
Q

What is sacrificial corrosion?

A

When a more reactive metal is intentionally allowed to corrode to protect the less reactive metal underneath

46
Q

What are alloys?

A

Mixtures of metals (or non-metals) where the metals are not chemically combined, and have often different properties such as more strength, hardness or resilience to corrosion or extreme temperatures, etc.

They contain atoms of different size which distort the regular layered arrangements of atoms making it more difficult for the layers to slide over each other so are much harder and stronger than the original metal

47
Q

What is an aluminium alloy?

A

Where aluminium is mixed with copper, manganese and silicon for stronger and lighter properties, as well as being more corrosion resilient

48
Q

What is a gold alloy?

A

Gold alloys are made to make jewellery, and their pureness is expressed in carats, eg. 24 carat is pure, but 12 carat is 50% pure, etc

49
Q

What are steel alloys?

A

Iron from a blast furnace (cast iron) is too brittle, so most if it is converted to steel by REMOVING SOME OF THE IMPURITIES.

It can be used in construction, transport, manufacturing and other industries

50
Q

What are ceramics?

A

Materials that are neither organic or metallic

51
Q

What are properties glass ceramics?

A
  • Transparent
  • Strong
  • Glass insulates against heat
  • Transparent so idea for windows
  • Very durable
52
Q

What are clay ceramics?

A

Hardened materials that resist compressive forces, and can be used in bricks which can withstand massive weight and pressure

53
Q

Properties and uses of polymers industry

A

Poor conductors of heat and electricity so are very good insulators

Extremely useful for insulating electrical wiring and prevent electric shocks and overheating

54
Q

What is LDPE?

A

Low density Polyethene can be made at high pressures and moderate temperatures which is used for bags and bottles for flexibility purposes

55
Q

What is HDPE?

A

High density Polyethene is produced at lower temperatures and pressures and with the use of a catalyst.

The polymer has a more rigid solid structure and is used to produce water tanks, mouldings and drain pipes

56
Q

What are Thermosoftening polymers?

A

Consist of individual chains entwined with each other with weak intermolecular forces holding the polymer chains together.

Low melting points and can be MELTED AND REMOULDED to form different shapes

57
Q

What are thermosetting polymers?

A

Strong cross-links between monomers on different chains so hold the structure together, hence the structure is strong and rigid so don’t soften under heating

58
Q

What are composites?

A

Materials made from two components, REINFORCEMENTS and a MATRIX

The reinforcement material is EMBEDDED in the matric material which acts as a BINDER

The properties depend on the reinforcement and matric so it can be tailor engineered to meet specific needs

59
Q

What are some common examples of composites?

A

Fibreglass and steel reinforced concrete

60
Q

What is a natural composite?

A

Wood. Consists of cellulose fibres held together by an organic polymer mix

61
Q

Properties and uses of carbon fibre?

A
  • Extremely strong
  • Lightweight

Used in aviation, aeronautics and racing bikes

62
Q

Properties and uses of steel reinforced concrete?

A
  • Immense tensile and compress