Using Resources Flashcards
Why do we use the Earth’s resources?
For warmth, shelter, food, and transport.
What do natural resources provide?
Food, timber, clothing, and fuels.
What are finite resources?
Resources that will eventually run out, such as fossil fuels and metal ores.
What are renewable resources?
Resources that can be replenished quickly (e.g. solar, wind, hydroelectric power).
What is sustainable development?
Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the future.
What is potable water?
Water that is safe to drink but not chemically pure (it contains dissolved substances).
How is potable water produced in the UK?
Rainwater collects in lakes, rivers, and groundwater.
Passed through filter beds to remove solids.
Sterilised using chlorine, ozone, or UV light to kill microbes.
What is desalination?
The process of removing salt from seawater to make it potable.
What are two methods of desalination?
Distillation (boiling & condensing water).
Reverse osmosis (forcing water through membranes to remove salt).
Why is desalination not commonly used?
It is very expensive and energy-intensive.
Why is treating wastewater important?
It removes toxins and microbes to make it safe for reuse or release.
What are the four stages of wastewater treatment?
Screening – Removes large solids (twigs, grit, etc.).
Sedimentation – Chemicals make solids and microbes stick together & sink.
Anaerobic digestion – Breaks down sewage sludge using bacteria.
Sterilisation – Chlorine is added to kill microbes.
Why is treating wastewater cheaper than desalination?
Wastewater is easier to purify than seawater, which contains large amounts of dissolved salts.
Why are new methods needed to extract metals?
Metal ores are running out, so alternative methods are needed for low-grade ores.
What is phytomining?
Plants absorb metal compounds from the soil, then are burned to produce metal-rich ash.
What is bioleaching?
Bacteria break down low-grade ores, producing a leachate solution containing metal compounds.
How can copper be extracted from solutions of copper compounds?
Displacement using scrap iron (iron is more reactive than copper).
Electrolysis (breaking down the compound using electricity).
What is a life cycle assessment (LCA)?
An analysis of a product’s environmental impact at different stages of its life.
What are the four stages of a life cycle assessment?
- Extracting & processing raw materials (e.g., mining, quarrying).
- Manufacturing & packaging (energy use, waste production).
- Use & operation during its lifetime (energy consumption, emissions).
- Disposal & transport (landfill, recycling, waste treatment).
Why is LCA not always objective?
Some pollutant effects require value judgements, making assessments subjective.
How can LCA be misused?
Companies may use selective LCAs for advertising, making their product seem more eco-friendly than it is.
How can we reduce the environmental impact of resource use?
Reduce, reuse, recycle.
Why is reducing resource use important?
It conserves limited resources, reduces energy consumption, and lowers environmental damage.
What are examples of materials that can be reduced, reused, or recycled?
- Glass bottles – Can be reused or crushed & melted for recycling.
- Metals – Can be melted & reformed into new products.
- Plastics & ceramics – Some can be recycled for different uses.
