Using the Earth's Resources Flashcards
what has chemistry replace natural resources with?
a synthetic alternative
an example of a synthetic alternative?
rubber
where does natural rubber come from?
the sap of a tree
how is synthetic rubber produced?
using crude oil
examples of finite resources?
- fossil fuels
- metal
example of renewable resources?
wood
why is it important that human activities are sustainable?
so that we can meet our needs without preventing future generations from meeting theirs
what do artificial fertilisers do?
they allow us to grow more food with the land available
define potable water
water that is safe to drink
what’s the difference between potable water and pure water?
- pure water doesn’t contain any dissolved substances at all whilst potable water does contain dissolved substances
how is potable water produced? (3)
- choose a good source of fresh water
e.g lake or reservoir - pass the water through filter beds to remove leaves and suspended particles
- the water is then sterilised to kill microbes; in the uk, we use chlorine to sterilise potable water
how is potable water produced in countries that don’t have many sources of fresh water?
through desalination
what is desalination?
reduces the levels of dissolved minerals down to an acceptable level for potable water
two ways of carrying out desalination
- distillation
- reverse osmosis
why must waste water be carefully treated before going back into the environment? (2)
- because it contains a very large amount of organic molecules
e.g from urine or faeces - it also contains harmful microorganisms such as bacteria