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Using Resources Flashcards

1
Q

What are natural resources?

A

Natural resources are materials that provide us with shelter, food, warmth, and transport

They can be living (plants and animals) or non-living (minerals, fossil fuels, water, and air).

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2
Q

What are the two types of natural resources?

A
  • Renewable resources
  • Non-renewable resources

Renewable resources can be replenished in a finite time, while non-renewable resources are finite.

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3
Q

What is the difference between renewable and non-renewable resources?

A

Renewable resources can be replenished, while non-renewable resources cannot reform quickly or at all

Examples of renewable resources include timber; examples of non-renewable resources include minerals and metal ores.

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4
Q

What is a finite resource?

A

Finite resources are those that cannot be replaced or take a very long time to replenish

This includes minerals and fossil fuels.

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5
Q

What role does chemistry play in sustainability?

A

Chemistry helps develop new materials through sustainable processes to meet current needs without compromising future availability of natural resources

Examples include synthetic rubber and fertilizers.

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6
Q

What is potable water?

A

Potable water is processed water that is safe for human consumption and daily use

It contains dissolved substances, unlike pure water which is solely H2O.

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7
Q

What characteristics should potable water have?

A
  • pH between 6.5 and 8.5
  • Small regulated quantities of dissolved substances
  • Free of bacteria or harmful microbes

Fresh water is relatively free from dissolved substances.

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8
Q

What are the three stages of treating water?

A
  • Sedimentation
  • Filtration
  • Chlorination

These stages ensure water is safe for consumption.

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9
Q

What is desalination?

A

Desalination is the process of treating seawater to remove salt, typically by distillation or reverse osmosis

It is expensive and energy-intensive.

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10
Q

What is the first step in sewage treatment?

A

Screening and grit removal

This stage removes large materials such as plastics and grit.

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11
Q

What occurs during sedimentation in sewage treatment?

A

Heavier solids sink to the bottom, creating sewage sludge, while lighter matter (effluent) floats to the top

This happens in a settlement tank.

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12
Q

What is aerobic digestion in sewage treatment?

A

Aerobic digestion involves pumping air into water to break down organic matter by aerobic bacteria

It treats effluent after sedimentation.

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13
Q

What is anaerobic digestion?

A

Anaerobic digestion breaks down sewage sludge in large tanks using bacteria, releasing methane gas as a byproduct

The methane can be used as a source of energy.

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14
Q

What are biological methods for metal extraction?

A

Techniques such as phytoextraction and bioleaching that rely on biological processes to extract metals

These methods reduce environmental damage compared to traditional mining.

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15
Q

What is phytomining?

A

Phytomining is a method that uses plants to extract metals from soil

It is particularly useful for low-grade ores.

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16
Q

What is the purpose of water treatment?

A

To remove organic matter, harmful microbes, particulates, and toxins from wastewater before returning it to freshwater sources

This prevents health risks for the population.

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17
Q

What is the significance of the pH in water quality analysis?

A

The pH indicates the acidity or alkalinity of water, essential for determining its safety for consumption

Safe potable water should have a pH between 6.5 and 8.5.

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18
Q

True or False: Potable water is the same as pure water.

A

False

Potable water may contain dissolved substances, while pure water is only H2O.

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19
Q

What is the role of membranes in wastewater treatment?

A

Membranes are used to separate toxic substances from water during additional treatment phases

This ensures water is safe for the environment.

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20
Q

What is phytomining?

A

A process that takes advantage of how some plants absorb metals through their roots

Plants are grown in areas with metals in the soil and metals are concentrated in parts like shoots and leaves

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21
Q

How do plants contribute to phytomining?

A

Plants absorb metals through their vascular system and concentrate them in specific parts

These parts are harvested, dried, and burned to extract metal compounds

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22
Q

What is the purpose of burning the harvested plant parts in phytomining?

A

To produce ash that contains metal compounds for extraction

Useful metals can be extracted by displacement reactions or electrolysis

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23
Q

What is bioleaching?

A

A technique that uses bacteria to extract metals from metal ores

Bacteria break down ores to form acidic solutions containing metal ions

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24
Q

What is a leachate in bioleaching?

A

The solution formed by bacteria that contains significant quantities of metal ions

This solution can be reduced to solid metal form for extraction

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25
Which metals are commonly extracted using bioleaching?
Metals from sulfides, e.g., CuS or Fe2S ## Footnote Bioleaching is often used for copper extraction
26
What environmental concern is associated with bioleaching?
It produces toxic substances that need treatment to prevent environmental contamination ## Footnote These substances must be managed to avoid harm to ecosystems
27
What is the main use of phytomining and bioleaching?
Principally used for copper extraction due to high demand ## Footnote These methods can also be applied to other metals
28
Fill in the blank: Phytomining extracts metals through _______.
[plant absorption]
29
Fill in the blank: Bioleaching involves the use of _______ to extract metals.
[bacteria]
30
True or False: Both phytomining and bioleaching are fast processes.
False ## Footnote Biological methods are generally slow
31
What is a disadvantage of traditional mining compared to biological methods?
Causes significant environmental damage due to digging and disposing of large rock amounts ## Footnote Traditional mining methods are more disruptive to ecosystems
32
What is a life cycle assessment (LCA)?
An analysis of the overall environmental impact that a product may have throughout its lifetime ## Footnote The cycle includes the stages: Raw Materials, Manufacture, Usage, and Disposal.
33
List the four main stages of a life cycle assessment.
* Raw Materials * Manufacture * Usage * Disposal
34
What environmental impact is associated with obtaining raw materials?
* Using up limited resources such as ores and crude oil * Damaging habitats through deforestation or mining
35
What are some environmental impacts of manufacturing processes?
* Using up land for factories * The use of fossil fuelled machines for production and transport * Production of waste
36
How does product usage affect the environment?
It depends on the type of product; e.g., a wooden desk has little impact, while a car has significant air pollution.
37
What impacts does disposal of outdated products have on the environment?
* Using up space at landfill sites * Whether the product or its parts can be recycled
38
How is a life cycle assessment carried out?
Using data of a product and assessment criteria, some stages are quantifiable while others may require value judgement.
39
True or False: A life cycle assessment provides a complete picture of a product's environmental impact.
False ## Footnote Abbreviated LCAs may not fully explain negative environmental impacts.
40
What is the environmental impact of crude oil as a raw material?
It is a finite source that requires a lot of energy to process.
41
What is the advantage of using recycled paper over new paper?
Making paper from recycled materials requires much less energy than making it from raw trees.
42
What is the main disadvantage of plastic bags compared to paper bags?
Plastic bags are not biodegradable and can take up space in landfills.
43
Fill in the blank: Recycling and reusing materials can save _______ and decrease environmental impact.
energy
44
What are some advantages of recycling?
* Economically beneficial for costly metals * Energy efficient compared to extracting new materials * Decreases waste and saves landfill space
45
What are some disadvantages of recycling?
* Collection and transport require energy * Sorting materials requires energy and labor * Recycled products may be of lower quality
46
What contributes to climate change in the context of raw materials?
Mining and extraction use up valuable fossil fuels.
47
What is a major industry that provides employment and feeds back into the economy?
Recycling
48
In evaluating ways to reduce the use of limited resources, what is necessary?
Compare methods using provided information and justify conclusions.
49
What is corrosion?
Corrosion is the destruction of materials by chemical substances in their environment over time. ## Footnote Most metals can corrode in the presence of oxygen to form metal oxides.
50
What is rusting?
Rusting is the specific corrosion of iron in the presence of water and oxygen, forming hydrated iron(III) oxide. ## Footnote The chemical reaction is: iron + water + oxygen ⟶ hydrated iron(III) oxide.
51
What conditions are necessary for rusting to occur?
Oxygen and water must be present. ## Footnote Investigations show that both air and water are essential for rusting.
52
What are barrier methods for rust prevention?
Barrier methods include: * Paint * Oil * Grease * Electroplating ## Footnote These methods prevent iron from coming into contact with water and oxygen.
53
What is sacrificial protection?
Sacrificial protection involves attaching a more reactive metal to a less reactive metal, allowing the more reactive metal to oxidize and corrode first. ## Footnote This protects the less reactive metal from corrosion.
54
What is galvanising?
Galvanising is the process of coating iron with a layer of zinc to protect it from rusting. ## Footnote Zinc forms ZnCO3 when reacting with oxygen and carbon dioxide, providing a barrier.
55
What is an alloy?
An alloy is a mixture of two or more metals or a metal with a non-metal such as carbon. ## Footnote Alloys have properties that differ significantly from the pure metals they contain.
56
How do alloys enhance metal properties?
Alloys are harder and stronger due to the distortion of the regular arrangement of atoms caused by different sized atoms. ## Footnote This makes it difficult for layers of atoms to slide over each other.
57
What is bronze made of?
Bronze is an alloy made of copper and tin. ## Footnote It is harder than copper and used for ornaments and medals.
58
What is the composition of stainless steel?
Stainless steel is made of iron, chromium, and nickel. ## Footnote It is hard and resistant to corrosion.
59
What are the two types of poly(ethene)?
The two types are: * High density poly(ethene) * Low density poly(ethene) ## Footnote The properties of poly(ethene) depend on the monomers and conditions used in its production.
60
What are thermosoftening polymers?
Thermosoftening polymers consist of individual, tangled chains with no cross-links, allowing them to be melted and remoulded. ## Footnote They are commonly used for packaging and plastic bottles.
61
What are thermosetting polymers?
Thermosetting polymers have strong cross-links between chains, making them strong and rigid structures that do not melt when heated. ## Footnote They are often used in electrical plugs.
62
What is a composite material?
Composites are made from two components: reinforcement and matrix. ## Footnote The reinforcement is embedded in the matrix material, which acts as a binder.
63
What is an example of a natural composite?
Wood is an example of a natural composite. ## Footnote Its properties depend on the cellulose fibers embedded in the organic polymer matrix.
64
What is the primary use of concrete?
Concrete is used in construction for its immense tensile and compressive strength. ## Footnote It is made from aggregate embedded in cement.
65
Fill in the blank: An alloy is a mixture of two or more _______.
[metals] ## Footnote Alloys are not compounds; they are mixtures.
66
True or False: Rusting and corrosion are the same process.
False ## Footnote Corrosion is a general term, while rusting specifically refers to iron.
67
What is the Haber Process used to manufacture?
Ammonia ## Footnote The Haber Process involves the reaction of hydrogen and nitrogen gases.
68
What are the reactants used in the Haber Process?
Hydrogen and nitrogen ## Footnote Hydrogen is extracted from methane while nitrogen is extracted from the air.
69
What is the chemical equation for the reaction in the Haber Process?
N2 (g) + 3H2 (g) ⇌ 2NH3 (g) ## Footnote This equation represents the reversible reaction that produces ammonia.
70
What is the temperature used in the Haber Process?
450°C ## Footnote This temperature is a compromise to balance yield and reaction speed.
71
At what pressure is the Haber Process conducted?
200 atmospheres ## Footnote This pressure is chosen to favor product yield while maintaining safety and cost-effectiveness.
72
What catalyst is used in the Haber Process?
Iron ## Footnote Iron is used to speed up the reaction without affecting the position of equilibrium.
73
What is dynamic equilibrium?
A state where the rate of the forward reaction equals the rate of the backward reaction ## Footnote It applies to reversible reactions occurring in a closed system.
74
How does temperature affect the yield of ammonia in the Haber Process?
Higher temperatures favor the reverse reaction ## Footnote Lower temperatures favor the forward reaction, increasing product yield.
75
What economic considerations influence the Haber Process?
Cost of raw materials, production energy costs, and safety of equipment ## Footnote These factors determine the viability and profitability of the process.
76
What are NPK fertilizers?
Compounds containing nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus ## Footnote They are used to increase crop yields.
77
What role does nitrogen play in plant growth?
Promotes healthy leaves ## Footnote It is one of the essential nutrients provided by fertilizers.
78
What is the advantage of artificial fertilizers over natural fertilizers?
They can be designed for specific nutrient needs ## Footnote Natural fertilizers have uncontrolled proportions of elements.
79
What ions are sources of soluble nitrogen in fertilizers?
Ammonium ions (NH4+) and nitrate ions (NO3–) ## Footnote These ions are crucial for plant nutrient uptake.
80
What is the chemical reaction to produce ammonium nitrate?
NH3 (aq) + HNO3 (aq) → NH4NO3 (aq) ## Footnote This reaction is significant in fertilizer production.
81
What is the difference in equipment for laboratory and industrial production of ammonium sulfate?
Simple equipment for laboratory; complex and expensive for industrial ## Footnote Industrial production involves high concentrations and exothermic reactions.
82
What is phosphate rock used for?
To produce water-soluble compounds for fertilizers ## Footnote Phosphate rock itself is insoluble but can be treated with acids.
83
What acids can be used to treat phosphate rock?
* Nitric acid * Sulfuric acid * Phosphoric acid ## Footnote Each acid produces different compounds useful in fertilizers.

GCSE Chemistry (12 decks)

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