Using Resources

Question 1

What are natural resources supplemented by agriculture used for?

Answer 1

Food, timber, clothing and fuels.

Question 2

What is the role of chemistry in sustainable development?

Answer 2

Improving agricultural and industrial processes to provide new products.

Question 3

Define potable water.

Answer 3

Water that is safe to drink, containing sufficiently low levels of dissolved salts and microbes.

Question 4

What are the three main steps in producing potable water in the UK?

Answer 4

• Choosing an appropriate source of fresh water
• Passing the water through filter beds
• Sterilising.

Question 5

What are common sterilising agents used for potable water?

Answer 5

• Chlorine
• Ozone
• Ultraviolet light.

Question 6

What is desalination?

Answer 6

The process of treating salty water or seawater to remove salt.

Question 7

Fill in the blank: The methods used for desalination include _______ and _______.

Answer 7

[distillation], [reverse osmosis]

Question 8

What are the two important steps in the water treatment process?

Answer 8

• Filtration
• Sterilisation.

Question 9

What is the purpose of screening in sewage treatment?

Answer 9

To remove debris such as soil, dirt, and small pebbles.

Question 10

What is anaerobic digestion in sewage treatment?

Answer 10

The process of breaking down sewage sludge without oxygen.

Question 11

What is corrosion?

Answer 11

The destruction of materials by chemical reactions with substances in the environment.

Question 12

What is rusting?

Answer 12

A specific example of corrosion that requires both air and water.

Question 13

How can corrosion be prevented?

Answer 13

By applying a protective coating such as paint, grease, or electroplating.

Question 14

What is the reactivity series used for in rust prevention?

Answer 14

To attach a more reactive metal to a less reactive metal for sacrificial protection.

Question 15

What is the composition of bronze?

Answer 15

Copper and tin.

Question 16

What type of glass is made from sand, sodium carbonate, and limestone?

Answer 16

Soda Lime Glass.

Question 17

What is the primary use of borosilicate glass?

Answer 17

Optical and lighting applications due to its resistance to high temperatures and chemical corrosion.

Question 18

What are composites made from?

Answer 18

Two materials: a matrix or binder and reinforcement.

Question 19

What is the Haber process used for?

Answer 19

To manufacture ammonia for nitrogen-based fertilisers.

Question 20

What are the raw materials for the Haber process?

Answer 20

• Nitrogen
• Hydrogen.

Question 21

At what temperature does the Haber process typically occur?

Answer 21

About 450°C.

Question 22

What is the pressure used in the Haber process?

Answer 22

About 200 atmospheres.

Question 23

What is the function of a catalyst in the Haber process?

Answer 23

To increase the rate at which equilibrium is reached without affecting the position of equilibrium.

Question 24

What are NPK fertilisers?

Answer 24

Fertilisers containing compounds of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

Question 25

What is phytomining?

Answer 25

A method of extracting metal compounds using plants.

Question 26

What is bioleaching?

Answer 26

Using bacteria to produce leachate solutions that contain metal compounds.

Question 27

What is the significance of life cycle assessments (LCAs)?

Answer 27

To assess the environmental impact of products at various stages.

Question 28

True or False: The reduction in use, reuse, and recycling of materials has no impact on environmental impacts.

Answer 28

False.

Question 29

What is the main property difference between thermosoftening and thermosetting polymers?

Answer 29

Thermosoftening polymers melt when heated; thermosetting polymers do not.

Question 30

What effect does lowering activation energy have on chemical processes?

Answer 30

It allows for an acceptable yield to be achieved at a lower temperature.

Question 31

What consequence arises from not lowering activation energy in a chemical process?

Answer 31

The process would have to be carried out at a higher temperature, increasing costs and decreasing yield.

Question 32

What are the primary compounds used in NPK fertilizers?

Answer 32

Compounds of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

Question 33

What does NPK stand for in fertilizers?

Answer 33

Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium.

Question 34

What is the industrial production of NPK fertilizers reliant on?

Answer 34

A variety of raw materials and several integrated processes.

Question 35

How are industrial NPK fertilizers formulated?

Answer 35

They contain various salts with appropriate percentages of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

Question 36

What can ammonia be used to manufacture?

Answer 36

Ammonium salts and nitric acid.

Question 37

How are potassium chloride, potassium sulfate, and phosphate rock obtained?

Answer 37

By mining.

Question 38

Why can't phosphate rock be used directly as a fertilizer?

Answer 38

It is insoluble in water.

Question 39

What acids are used to treat phosphate rock to produce soluble salts?

Answer 39

Nitric acid or sulfuric acid.

Question 40

What is produced when phosphate rock is treated with nitric acid?

Answer 40

Phosphoric acid and calcium nitrate.

Question 41

What is formed when phosphoric acid is neutralized with ammonia?

Answer 41

Ammonium phosphate.

Question 42

What is produced when phosphate rock is treated with sulfuric acid?

Answer 42

A mixture of calcium phosphate and calcium sulfate, known as single superphosphate.

Question 43

What is known as triple superphosphate?

Answer 43

Calcium phosphate produced from phosphoric acid treatment of phosphate rock.

Question 44

How is potassium chloride and potassium sulfate extracted?

Answer 44

They are easier to extract because potassium compounds are water soluble.

Question 45

What type of equipment is needed for laboratory production of ammonium sulfate?

Answer 45

Simple equipment, prepared using titration apparatus.

Question 46

What is a characteristic of industrial production of ammonium sulfate?

Answer 46

It requires hugely expensive and complex equipment.

Question 47

What reactant concentrations are used in laboratory production of ammonium sulfate?

Answer 47

Low concentrations.

Question 48

What happens during industrial production in terms of heat?

Answer 48

High concentrations lead to a very exothermic reaction.

Question 49

How is the product separated in laboratory production of ammonium sulfate?

Answer 49

Crystallisation is used, which is a slow process.

Question 50

What is used in industrial production to concentrate ammonium nitrate product?

Answer 50

The heat produced is used to evaporate water from the reaction mixture.