Using resources Flashcards
What is an example of a natural product that has been replaced by a synthetic alternative
Natural rubber from tree sap
Replaced by crude oil rubber
Give examples of finite resources
Metals and Fossil fuels
Give examples of non finite resources
Water and wood
What is potable water
Water that is safe to drink
It often contains dissolved solids
How do you check if water is pure
- Check the pH (dissolved acids/ alkalis)
- Weigh an evaporating basin, evaporate water, allow it to cool, if the sample contained solids, the mass will have increased- (dissolved solids)
How do you purify water by distillation
Put a conical flask ontop of a tripod and gauze.
Heat up the water
The water will vapour will condense into the test tube surrounded by cold water
You are now left with water with no dissolved solids
How can you produce potable water from freshwater
Fall it through filter beds to remove large particles
Sterilise it to kill microbes- using chlorine/ UV light
How can you carry out desalination (2)
Distillation or pass it through membranes which is called reverse osmosis
What is desalination
The process of removing salt from water to make it at an acceptable level for potable water
Describe the process of waste water treatment
- It is screened by passing it through a mesh
- The sewage settles in large sedimentation tanks where it produces a liquid effluent and a solid sludge
- The solid sludge is digested by anaerobic bacteria. The biogas can be burned for electricity. The digested sludge can be used for fertilisers
- Air is bubbled through the liquid effluent, which allows aerobic bacteria to multiply
- Aerobic bacteria digest organic molecules and harmful microorganisms
- Then the liquid effluent can be discharged into natural water sources
What is the easiest way to produce potable water
Use ground water from aquifers
Why do we have to mine copper from lower grade ores
Because copper rich sources are running out
What is phytomining
When plants are grown on land that has the metal you want
The plants concentrate the metal in their tissue
The plants are then harvested and burnt
The ash contains a high concentration of the metal
Explain bioleaching
Bacteria are mixed with lower grade ore
Bacteria carry out chemical reactions to produce a solution called leachate
Leachate contains a high concentration of the metal we want
How do you get copper from ores
Displace it with iron
Why are bioleaching and phytomining important
They allow us to economically extract metals from low grade ores
The produce less emissions that traditional ones
Why is quarrying bad
Releases dust which can be bad for habitats
Why is mining harmful
It can release harmful chemicals into the environment
Name a material that can be reused
Glass
What is corrosion
The destructio of materials by chemical reactions with substances in the environment
What is an example of corrosion
Rusting
When asked about a rusting experiment, what 3 scenarios should you describe using a nail and a test tube
1- Nail in open water and air
2- Nail in boiled distilled water with oil ontop (water-Air)
3- Nail in Anhydrous copper chloride powder with bung ontop (Air-Water)
What does rusting require
Both air and water
How can you protect rusting
Applying a barrier like grease, paint or electroplating
