Using resources
50 exam-style questions with answers for 4.10 Using resources in AQA GCSE Chemistry (spec 8462). Practise with flashcards, a topic quiz, a random quiz across the course, 5 crosswords, or read every question and answer below. Not official AQA material.
All 50 questions and answers
Question 1 · Spec 4.10.1.1 · Resources
What are natural resources used for? [2 marks]
Answer:To provide warmth, shelter, food and transport (1); supplemented and replaced by agriculture and synthetic products (1).Question 2 · Spec 4.10.1.1 · Sustainable development
Define sustainable development. [1 mark]
Answer:Development that meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.Question 3 · Spec 4.10.1.2 · Potable water
What is potable water? [1 mark]
Answer:Water that is safe to drink, with low levels of dissolved salts and microbes.Question 4 · Spec 4.10.1.2 · Potable water
Why is potable water not pure water? [1 mark]
Answer:It still contains dissolved substances.Question 5 · Spec 4.10.1.2 · Potable water
Describe how fresh water is treated in the UK. [2 marks]
Answer:It is passed through filter beds to remove solids (1); then sterilised, for example with chlorine, ozone or ultraviolet light (1).Question 6 · Spec 4.10.1.2 · Desalination
State two methods of desalination. [2 marks]
Answer:Distillation (1); reverse osmosis using membranes (1).Question 7 · Spec 4.10.1.2 · Desalination
Why is desalination not widely used in the UK? [1 mark]
Answer:It needs large amounts of energy, so it is expensive.Question 8 · Spec 4.10.1.2 · Required practical 8
Describe how to purify a sample of salty water by distillation. [2 marks]
Answer:Heat the water so it boils and the vapour passes into a condenser (1); collect the pure water that condenses, leaving the salt behind (1).Question 9 · Spec 4.10.1.2 · Required practical 8
How can you test the pH and dissolved solids in a water sample? [2 marks]
Answer:Measure pH with universal indicator or a pH meter (1); evaporate a known volume and weigh the solid left (1).Question 10 · Spec 4.10.1.3 · Waste water
Why must sewage be treated? [1 mark]
Answer:To remove organic matter and harmful microbes before it is released into the environment.Question 11 · Spec 4.10.1.3 · Waste water
Describe the steps in sewage treatment. [3 marks]
Answer:Screening and grit removal (1); sedimentation to produce sewage sludge and effluent (1); anaerobic digestion of sludge and aerobic treatment of effluent (1).Question 12 · Spec 4.10.1.3 · Waste water
Why might water companies prefer ground water to waste water as a source of potable water? [1 mark]
Answer:Waste water needs much more treatment.Question 13 · Spec 4.10.1.4 · Alternative extraction · Higher only
Why are new ways of extracting copper needed? [1 mark]
Answer:The Earth's supply of high-grade copper ores is running out.Question 14 · Spec 4.10.1.4 · Phytomining · Higher only
Describe phytomining. [3 marks]
Answer:Plants are grown on low-grade ore and absorb metal compounds (1); the plants are harvested and burned (1); the ash contains metal compounds (1).Question 15 · Spec 4.10.1.4 · Bioleaching · Higher only
Describe bioleaching. [2 marks]
Answer:Bacteria are used to produce leachate solutions containing metal compounds (1); from low-grade ores (1).Question 16 · Spec 4.10.1.4 · Alternative extraction · Higher only
How is copper obtained from the solutions made by phytomining or bioleaching? [2 marks]
Answer:Displacement using scrap iron (1); or electrolysis (1).Question 17 · Spec 4.10.2.1 · Life cycle assessment
Name the four stages of a life cycle assessment. [2 marks]
Answer:Extracting and processing raw materials, and manufacturing and packaging (1); use and operation, and disposal at the end of life (1).Question 18 · Spec 4.10.2.1 · Life cycle assessment
Why can life cycle assessments be biased? [2 marks]
Answer:Values for some pollutant effects are hard to measure, so judgements are needed (1); selective or abbreviated LCAs can be used to support claims for advertising (1).Question 19 · Spec 4.10.2.1 · Life cycle assessment
Compare plastic and paper shopping bags. [2 marks]
Answer:Plastic bags are made from crude oil, a finite resource, and do not biodegrade (1); paper bags come from trees and biodegrade, but making them uses more energy and water (1).Question 20 · Spec 4.10.2.2 · Recycling
State two benefits of reusing and recycling materials. [2 marks]
Answer:Any two from: less use of limited raw materials (1); less energy used (1); less waste in landfill (1); less environmental damage from quarrying and mining (1).Question 21 · Spec 4.10.2.2 · Recycling
How is metal recycled? [1 mark]
Answer:It is melted and recast or reformed into new products.Question 22 · Spec 4.10.2.2 · Recycling
Why is glass crushed and melted to recycle it? [1 mark]
Answer:To make new glass products, such as bottles, using less energy than making glass from raw materials.Question 23 · Spec 4.10.3.1 · Corrosion
What is corrosion? [1 mark]
Answer:The destruction of materials by chemical reactions with substances in the environment.Question 24 · Spec 4.10.3.1 · Rusting
What conditions are needed for iron to rust? [2 marks]
Answer:Air (oxygen) (1); and water (1).Question 25 · Spec 4.10.3.1 · Rusting
State three ways of preventing corrosion. [3 marks]
Answer:Painting or coating with plastic (1); oiling or greasing (1); electroplating or galvanising (1).Question 26 · Spec 4.10.3.1 · Sacrificial protection
Explain how sacrificial protection works. [2 marks]
Answer:A more reactive metal, such as zinc, is attached to iron (1); it reacts (corrodes) instead of the iron (1).Question 27 · Spec 4.10.3.2 · Alloys
Why are alloys used instead of pure metals? [1 mark]
Answer:They are harder and stronger.Question 28 · Spec 4.10.3.2 · Alloys
What is bronze made from? [1 mark]
Answer:Copper and tin.Question 29 · Spec 4.10.3.2 · Alloys
Why is gold used in jewellery alloyed with other metals? [1 mark]
Answer:Pure gold is too soft; alloying makes it harder.Question 30 · Spec 4.10.3.2 · Steel
Give one use of high carbon steel and one use of stainless steel. [2 marks]
Answer:High carbon steel: tools, as it is strong but brittle (1); stainless steel: cutlery, as it is hard and resistant to corrosion (1).Question 31 · Spec 4.10.3.2 · Alloys
Why is aluminium alloy used in aircraft? [1 mark]
Answer:It has a low density and is strong.Question 32 · Spec 4.10.3.3 · Ceramics
How is soda-lime glass made? [1 mark]
Answer:By heating a mixture of sand, sodium carbonate and limestone.Question 33 · Spec 4.10.3.3 · Ceramics
How are clay ceramics made? [1 mark]
Answer:By shaping wet clay and then heating it in a furnace.Question 34 · Spec 4.10.3.3 · Polymers
What is the difference between thermosoftening and thermosetting polymers? [2 marks]
Answer:Thermosoftening polymers melt when heated, as there are only weak forces between chains (1); thermosetting polymers do not melt, as they have cross-links between chains (1).Question 35 · Spec 4.10.3.3 · Polymers
How do conditions affect the properties of poly(ethene)? [1 mark]
Answer:Different catalysts and reaction conditions make low density (LD) or high density (HD) poly(ethene).Question 36 · Spec 4.10.3.3 · Composites
What is a composite material? [2 marks]
Answer:A material made of two materials combined (1); with reinforcement fibres or fragments bound in a matrix (1).Question 37 · Spec 4.10.4.1 · Haber process
Write the equation for the Haber process. [1 mark]
Answer:N₂ + 3H₂ ⇌ 2NH₃.Question 38 · Spec 4.10.4.1 · Haber process
Where do the raw materials for the Haber process come from? [2 marks]
Answer:Nitrogen from the air (1); hydrogen from natural gas (or other sources) (1).Question 39 · Spec 4.10.4.1 · Haber process
State the conditions used in the Haber process. [3 marks]
Answer:A temperature of about 450 °C (1); a pressure of about 200 atmospheres (1); an iron catalyst (1).Question 40 · Spec 4.10.4.1 · Haber process
What happens to unreacted nitrogen and hydrogen? [1 mark]
Answer:They are recycled back into the reactor.Question 41 · Spec 4.10.4.1 · Haber process · Higher only
Explain why 450 °C is a compromise temperature. [2 marks]
Answer:A lower temperature would give a higher yield because the forward reaction is exothermic (1); but the rate would be too slow (1).Question 42 · Spec 4.10.4.1 · Haber process · Higher only
Why is a pressure of 200 atmospheres used and not higher? [2 marks]
Answer:Higher pressure increases yield because there are fewer gas molecules on the right (1); but higher pressures are more expensive and dangerous (1).Question 43 · Spec 4.10.4.2 · NPK fertilisers
What do NPK fertilisers contain? [1 mark]
Answer:Compounds of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.Question 44 · Spec 4.10.4.2 · NPK fertilisers
Why are fertilisers used? [1 mark]
Answer:To improve agricultural productivity by replacing the elements used by crops.Question 45 · Spec 4.10.4.2 · NPK fertilisers
Name one compound made from ammonia used as a fertiliser. [1 mark]
Answer:Ammonium nitrate (or ammonium sulfate).Question 46 · Spec 4.10.4.2 · NPK fertilisers
How are phosphate rocks made into fertilisers? [2 marks]
Answer:They are treated with nitric acid or sulfuric acid (1); to produce soluble salts that can be used as fertilisers (1).Question 47 · Spec 4.10.4.2 · NPK fertilisers
Where is potassium chloride for fertilisers obtained from? [1 mark]
Answer:It is mined.Question 48 · Spec 4.10.4.2 · Industrial production
Why is ammonium sulfate made differently in the lab than in industry? [2 marks]
Answer:In the lab it is made in small amounts by titration and crystallisation (1); in industry it is made on a large scale in several stages from raw materials (1).Question 49 · Spec 4.10.1.1 · Resources
What is a finite resource? [1 mark]
Answer:A resource that is being used up faster than it can be replaced, so it will run out.Question 50 · Spec 4.10.1.1 · Resources
Give an example of a renewable resource. [1 mark]
Answer:Timber, or crops grown for food or fuel.