C14 Flashcards
(87 cards)
what are the 2 main ways to class resources
finite and infinite (renewable)
define finite resources
a resource which will eventually run out
define renewable resource
a resource which will never run out because it can be replenished at the rate it is used up
what are some natural resources which are used and the alternate synthetic product made
wool - clothes - acrylic fibre
cotton - clothes - polyester
silk - clothes - nylon
linseed oil - paint - acrylic resin
rubber - tyres - synthetic polymers
wood - construction - PVC
what does natural water contain
- insoluble impurities
- soluble impurities
- biological impurities
what is potable water
water that is safe to drink
how do methods of collecting potable water vary in each country
it depends on the available supplies of water and the local conditions
how does the UK gather potable water
rain water provides water with low levels of dissolved substances which is then collected into lakes and rivers
how is most potable water produced
- choosing an appropriate source of fresh water
- passing the water through filter beds
- steralising
what are some sterilising agents used in potable water
- chlorine
- UV light
- ozone
what is the water treatment process of fresh sources of potable water
- filter beds remove large objects
- sand and soil becomes settled and fall to the bottom of the settlement tank
- aluminium sulphate and lime are added which causes small particles of dirt to clump together and fall to the ground. this forms a sludge which is then taken to landfill
- the water is passed through a filter of fine sand so any remaining mud or grit is removed
- the water is sterilised by chlorine
- the pH of the water is checked and corrected to it’s neutralised
- the water is stored in large tanks till needed
- the water is pumped to where it is needed
what is pure water
water which only contains water particles
how can water be purified
by desalinisation
why is pure water used
it is used for experiments in labs by chemists
is pure water safe to drink
no, as our bodies will start to become deficient in some ions
what is desalinisation
the process of removing salt from sea water
what is the problem with desalinisation
it uses a vast amount of energy
what are the 2 methods of desalinisation
- reverse osmosis
- distillation
what is reverse osmosis
where sea water is passed through a membrane. The membrane has small pores which is big enough to allow water to pass but the salt is too big and so can not pass through the membrane and so gets trapped.
what are the advantages and disadvantages of reverse osmosis
- most minerals and ions can not pass through the small pores
- expensive membranes are required and produces large amounts of waste water
why is there large amounts of waste water
due to urban lifestyles
what happens to the waste water before being released into the environment
it is treated
what does sewage and agricultural waste water require removal of
- organic matter
- harmful microbes
what does industrial waste water require removal of
- organic matter
- harmful chemicals