Using Resources

Question 1

What are renewable resources?

Answer 1

> Reform at a similar rate or faster than we use them.

Question 2

What are Finite resources?

Answer 2

> They aren’t formed quickly enough to replenish them.

Question 3

What are the risks of finite resources?

Answer 3

> Uses a lot of energy
Scars landscapes
Produces a lot of waste and damages habitats

Question 4

What is sustainable development?

Answer 4

> Approach of development of need of society, without damaging future generations.

Question 5

What can be unsustainable?

Answer 5

> Extracting resources due to the amount of energy used and waste produced.
Processing the resources as it also requires energy from finite resources.

Question 6

What are alternative extracting methods?

Answer 6

Bioleaching, Phyto-mining

Question 7

What is Bioleaching?

Answer 7

> Bacteria are used to convert copper compounds in the ore into soluble copper compounds separating out the copper from the ore.

Question 8

What is Phyto-mining?

Answer 8

> Involves growing plants in soil that contains copper.
The plants can’t use the copper, so it gradually builds up in the leaves, then the plants can be harvested.

Question 9

Why is recycling good?

Answer 9

> Often use less energy than is needed to mine and extract new material
Also cuts down amount of waste going to landfill

Question 10

How are metals recycled?

Answer 10

> They are usually melted and then casted into the shape of the new product.

Question 11

Explain the Processes and problems involved in the Life Cycle Assessment?

Answer 11

1) Extraction:
>It can result in pollution to the amount of energy needed
2) Manufacturing
>Can use a lot of energy resources + Pollution
3)Using the product:
>The use of a product can damage the environment
4)Product disposal:
>Products are often disposed in landfill, this pollutes land and water.
>Energy is used to transport waste to landfill.

Question 12

What’s are the Pros and cons of a Plastic Bag?

Answer 12

Pros:
>Can be reused for other things
>Recyclable

Cons:
>Not biodegradable
>Takes a lot of space in landfill
>Crude oil

Question 13

What’s are the Pros and cons of a Paper Bag?

Answer 13

Pros:
>Biodegradable
>Non toxic and can be recycled

Cons:
>Timber
>Usually used once
>Processed using lots of energy
>Lots of waste is made

Question 14

Cons of LCA?

Answer 14

> We cant be certain how damaging a products is.
This means that sometime we have to go with estimates, so it may be inaccurate.
So LCA can be biased.

Question 15

What is Potable water?

Answer 15

> Water that is safe to drink.

Question 16

What is pure water?

Answer 16

> Only contains H2O molecules

Question 17

Methods to make potable water?

Answer 17

Filtration-Screen mesh screens out large twigs
Sterilisation-The water is sterilised to kill harmful bacteria by UV-light or Ozone.

Question 18

How is reverse osmosis carried out?

Answer 18

1)Salty water is passed through membrane than only allows water molecules to pass through.
2)Ions and larger molecules are trapped by the membrane so separated from the water.

Question 19

What is the con of Distillation and Reverse Osmosis

Answer 19

> Both require a lot of energy so really expensive

Question 20

Name a method to analyse water samples?

Answer 20

> For each sample of water you are given, test the pH using either a pH meter or universal indicator and an appropriate colour chart. Record your observations carefully.

> For each sample of water, pour 50 cm3 into a clean pre-weighed evaporating basin. Heat gently over a Bunsen burner, tripod and gauze until no liquid remains. Allow to cool, then weigh the evaporating basin again and calculate the mass of solid that remains in the evaporating basin.

Question 21

Name and explain another method to test water?

Answer 21

Method - Part 2 (Distillation):
1. Set up your distillation apparatus as demonstrated by your teacher. You may be able to use a conventional condenser like this:
2. Heat your sea water solution until it boils gently.
3. After a period of time you should see distilled water being produced.

Question 22

Explain the Processes involved in waste water treatment?

Answer 22

1)Screening:
>involves removing large bits of material
2)Sedimentation:
>Goes to settlement tank, heavier solids sink and lighter effluent floats.
3)Effluent:
>Is treated by biological aerobic digestion
4)Sludge is broken down by anaerobic digestion, whih releases CH4 has which is then used as energy source

Question 23

What is the Pro of Sewage treatment?

Answer 23

> Requires more processes but uses less energy than the desalination of salt water.

Question 24

Con of sewage treatment?

Answer 24

> Some people don’t like the idea of drinking water that used to be sewage.