Using Resources

Question 1

What are natural resources?

Answer 1

Natural resources form without human input and include anything from the earth, sea, or air.

Examples include cotton for clothing and oil for fuel.

Question 2

Can natural products be replaced? Give an example.

Answer 2

Yes, some natural products can be replaced by synthetic products. For example, man-made polymers can replace natural rubber.

Rubber is extracted from the sap of a tree.

Question 3

How does agriculture enhance natural resources?

Answer 3

Agriculture provides conditions to enhance natural resources, such as through the development of fertilizers that increase crop yield.

Question 4

What are renewable resources?

Answer 4

Renewable resources reform at a similar rate to or faster than we use them.

Examples include timber, fresh water, and food.

Question 5

What are finite resources?

Answer 5

Finite (non-renewable) resources are not formed quickly enough to be considered replaceable.

Examples include fossil fuels and nuclear fuels like uranium and plutonium.

Question 6

What is an example of a process used on finite resources?

Answer 6

Fractional distillation is used to produce usable products like petrol from crude oil.

Question 7

What is the energy density range for timber?

Answer 7

The energy density for timber is between 7600-11400 MJ/m³.

Question 8

What is the energy density range for coal?

Answer 8

The energy density for coal is between 23000-26000 MJ/m³.

Question 9

How long does it take for timber to reform?

Answer 9

Timber takes about 10 years to reform.

Question 10

How long does it take for coal to form?

Answer 10

Coal takes about 106 years to form.

Question 11

What are the risks of extracting finite resources?

Answer 11

Extracting finite resources can have social, economic, and environmental effects.

Question 12

What are some positive effects of mining metal ores?

Answer 12

Mining metal ores provides useful products, local jobs, and brings money into the area.

Question 13

What are some negative effects of mining metal ores?

Answer 13

Negative effects include high energy use, landscape scarring, waste production, and habitat destruction.

Question 14

Fill in the blank: Renewable resources can be reformed at a _______ rate than they are used.

Answer 14

similar or faster

Question 15

True or False: All natural resources are renewable.

Answer 15

False

Question 16

What is sustainable development?

Answer 16

An approach to development that meets present society’s needs without harming future generations.

Question 17

Why is it unsustainable to keep using non-renewable resources?

Answer 17

Because they are finite and will eventually run out.

Question 18

What are two processes involved in resource extraction that can be unsustainable?

Answer 18

• Extracting resources
• Processing resources into useful materials

Question 19

How can the use of finite resources be reduced?

Answer 19

By using less and developing processes that require lower amounts of finite resources.

Question 20

What is bioleaching?

Answer 20

A method using bacteria to convert copper compounds in ore into soluble copper compounds.

Question 21

What is phytomining?

Answer 21

Growing plants in copper-containing soil, which accumulate copper in their leaves for extraction.

Question 22

What is one disadvantage of new methods of copper extraction?

Answer 22

They are slower than traditional methods.

Question 23

Why is recycling metals important?

Answer 23

• Reduces need for copper-rich ores
• Uses less energy than mining
• Conserves finite metal resources
• Reduces waste sent to landfill

Question 24

What is the process for recycling metals?

Answer 24

Melting metals and casting them into new product shapes.

Question 25

How is glass recycling beneficial?

Answer 25

* Reduces energy needed for new glass * Decreases waste from used glass

Question 26

What happens to glass bottles during recycling?

Answer 26

They can often be reused without reshaping.

Question 27

What is a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)?

Answer 27

An assessment that looks at every stage of a product's life to evaluate its environmental impact.

Question 28

What are the stages considered in a Life Cycle Assessment?

Answer 28

* Getting raw materials * Manufacture and packaging * Using the product * Product disposal

Question 29

What is a significant environmental impact of extracting raw materials?

Answer 29

It can damage the local environment and cause pollution.

Question 30

What type of energy is often used in the manufacturing and packaging stage?

Answer 30

A lot of energy resources, causing pollution.

Question 31

What are the potential environmental impacts of product disposal?

Answer 31

* Landfill pollution * Greenhouse gas emissions from incineration * Leaching of harmful substances into ecosystems

Question 32

What is the primary raw material for plastic bags?

Answer 32

Crude oil.

Question 33

What are the environmental concerns regarding plastic bags compared to paper bags?

Answer 33

Plastic bags are not biodegradable and take up space in landfills, but they require less energy to produce.

Question 34

What is a limitation of Life Cycle Assessments?

Answer 34

Some impacts, like visual pollution, are difficult to quantify.

Question 35

What is a potential bias in Life Cycle Assessments?

Answer 35

They can be influenced by the values of the person conducting the assessment.

Question 36

Fill in the blank: Life Cycle Assessments can be biased if they show only some of the impacts of a product, known as _______.

Answer 36

Selective LCAs.

Question 37

What is potable water?

Answer 37

Water that has been treated or is naturally safe for humans to drink ## Footnote Potable water is essential for life but is not necessarily pure, as it can contain dissolved substances.

Question 38

What are the criteria for water to be considered potable?

Answer 38

Levels of dissolved salts must not be too high, pH must be between 6.5 and 8.5, and no harmful microbes should be present ## Footnote Harmful microbes include bacteria and other pathogens.

Question 39

What is fresh water?

Answer 39

Water that doesn't have much dissolved in it ## Footnote Fresh water can be found as surface water or groundwater.

Question 40

What happens to rainwater?

Answer 40

It can collect as surface water or groundwater ## Footnote Surface water includes lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, while groundwater is found in aquifers.

Question 41

What is the primary source of domestic water supply in warm areas like the south-east UK?

Answer 41

Groundwater ## Footnote Surface water tends to dry up first in these regions.

Question 42

What are the steps involved in treating fresh water?

Answer 42

Filtration and sterilization ## Footnote Filtration screens out large debris, while sterilization kills harmful microbes using chlorine gas, ozone, or ultraviolet light.

Question 43

What is desalination?

Answer 43

The process of treating seawater to provide potable water ## Footnote This can include methods like distillation and reverse osmosis.

Question 44

What is distillation used for in water treatment?

Answer 44

To purify water and remove salts ## Footnote It involves heating water to create steam, which is then condensed back into liquid.

Question 45

What is reverse osmosis?

Answer 45

A process that uses membranes to separate water from salts and larger molecules ## Footnote It allows only water molecules to pass through while trapping ions and other substances.

Question 46

Why are distillation and reverse osmosis expensive?

Answer 46

They require a lot of energy ## Footnote This makes them impractical for producing large quantities of fresh water.

Question 47

What is waste water?

Answer 47

Water that has been used and contains organic and inorganic waste ## Footnote It comes from various sources like homes, agriculture, and industry.

Question 48

What must be done to sewage before it can be returned to freshwater sources?

Answer 48

It must be treated to remove organic matter and harmful microbes ## Footnote Otherwise, it would pollute rivers and lakes.

Question 49

What are the stages of sewage treatment?

Answer 49

Screening, sedimentation, aerobic digestion, anaerobic digestion ## Footnote Each stage addresses different aspects of waste removal and treatment.

Question 50

What does screening involve in sewage treatment?

Answer 50

Removing large materials and grit ## Footnote This is the first step in the sewage treatment process.

Question 51

What happens during sedimentation?

Answer 51

Heavier suspended solids sink to the bottom, producing sludge ## Footnote Lighter effluent floats on top and is removed for further treatment.

Question 52

What is the role of aerobic digestion in sewage treatment?

Answer 52

Air is pumped through water to encourage aerobic bacteria to break down organic matter ## Footnote This process also helps eliminate harmful microbes.

Question 53

What is anaerobic digestion?

Answer 53

A process that breaks down organic matter in sludge without oxygen ## Footnote It produces methane gas, which can be used as an energy source.

Question 54

What additional treatment may be required for waste water containing toxic substances?

Answer 54

Adding chemicals, UV radiation, or using membranes ## Footnote These steps ensure that harmful substances are removed before release into the environment.

Question 55

True or False: Treating fresh water requires more energy than desalination.

Answer 55

False ## Footnote Treating fresh water uses less energy than desalinating salt water.

Question 56

What is a common public concern about recycling waste water for drinking supplies?

Answer 56

People dislike the idea of drinking water that used to be sewage ## Footnote This can affect public acceptance of water recycling initiatives.