C10 - Using Resources Flashcards
(21 cards)
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What is a finite resource?
A resource that will eventually run out, e.g. fossil fuels.
What is a renewable resource?
A resource that can be replaced as it’s used, e.g. crops or solar energy.
What is potable water?
Water that is safe to drink.
What are the main steps in producing potable water in the UK?
Filtration and sterilisation.
What is desalination?
Removing salt from seawater to make it potable.
Name two methods of desalination.
Distillation and reverse osmosis.
Why is desalination not widely used in the UK?
It is expensive and uses a lot of energy.
What is waste water?
Water that has been used and needs treating before being released.
What are the main steps in sewage treatment?
Screening, sedimentation, aerobic and anaerobic digestion.
What is the purpose of life cycle assessments (LCAs)?
To assess the environmental impact of a product from cradle to grave.
What are the four stages considered in an LCA?
Raw materials, manufacturing, use, and disposal.
Why can LCAs be biased?
Some impacts are hard to quantify and value judgements may be used.
What is recycling?
Reprocessing waste materials to make new products.
Why is recycling important?
It reduces the need for finite resources and energy use.
What is corrosion?
The destruction of materials by chemical reactions with substances in the environment.
How can corrosion be prevented?
By coating with paint, oil, plastic, or using sacrificial metals.
What is an alloy?
A mixture of a metal with other elements to improve properties.
Why are alloys often used instead of pure metals?
They are harder and more useful.
What is the Haber process used for?
To produce ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen.
What is ammonia used for?
To make fertilisers and other chemicals.
