AQA · GCSE · Chemistry
Course version: 8462 · Version from Sept 2018
Finite resources from the Earth, oceans and atmosphere are processed to…
Full specification wording
Using the Earth's resources and sustainable development: Finite resources from the Earth, oceans and atmosphere are processed to provide energy and materials.
For example, crude oil from the Earth's crust is fractionally distilled to provide fuels for energy and petrochemical feedstocks for plastics.
Checked against the AQA 8462 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 3 of 6
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
For example, crude oil from the Earth's crust is fractionally distilled to provide fuels for energy and petrochemical feedstocks for plastics. Metal ores are mined and processed via reduction to extract useful metals. While the oceans and atmosphere provide renewable resources like fresh water and oxygen, they also yield finite resources, such as offshore natural gas. You must distinguish between finite resources (e.g. fossil fuels, metal ores) and renewable resources (e.g. timber, fresh water). A concrete example is processing finite iron ore by heating with carbon to produce iron for construction.
What earns the marks
- Define finite resources as those that are being depleted faster than they are naturally replaced, such as fossil fuels and metal ores.
- Describe how crude oil (a finite resource from the Earth) is processed by fractional distillation and cracking to provide fuels and petrochemicals.
- Explain that metal ores are finite resources extracted from the Earth's crust and processed, often by reduction, to provide useful metals.
- Distinguish finite resources from renewable resources, noting that fresh water and atmospheric gases are generally considered renewable.
- State that finite resources will eventually run out, so their extraction, processing and use must be managed sustainably.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confusing finite and renewable resources.
Put it right: Classify fossil fuels and metal ores as finite, and fresh water or timber as renewable.
Confusing fractional distillation with cracking.
Put it right: Fractional distillation separates crude oil by boiling point, while cracking breaks larger molecules into smaller ones.
Stating that metal ores are used directly.
Put it right: Ores must be processed, often by chemical reduction, to extract the useful metal.
Exam tips
- When asked for examples, clearly distinguish between finite resources (like crude oil) and renewable resources (like wood).
- Link each processed product to a specific use, such as stating that fractional distillation of crude oil produces petrol for energy.
Try the lesson
The start of the Using the Earth's resources and sustainable development: Finite resources from the Earth, oceans and atmosphere are processed to provide energy and materials. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which of these is a finite resource taken from the Earth and processed to provide energy?
Listen
For example, crude oil from the Earth's crust is fractionally distilled to provide fuels for energy and petrochemical feedstocks for plastics. Metal ores are mined and processed via reduction to extract useful metals. While the oceans and atmosphere provide renewable resources like fresh water and oxygen, they also yield finite resources, such as offshore natural gas. You must distinguish between finite resources (e.g. fossil fuels, metal ores) and renewable resources (e.g. timber, fresh water). A concrete example is processing finite iron ore by heating with carbon to produce iron for construction. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Define finite resources as those that are being depleted faster than they are naturally replaced, such as fossil fuels and metal ores. Describe how crude oil (a finite resource from the Earth) is processed by fractional distillation and cracking to provide fuels and petrochemicals. Explain that metal ores are finite resources extracted from the Earth's crust and processed, often by reduction, to provide useful metals. Distinguish finite resources from renewable resources, noting that fresh water and atmospheric gases are generally considered renewable. A common slip: Confusing finite and renewable resources. Instead, classify fossil fuels and metal ores as finite, and fresh water or timber as renewable. Exam tip: When asked for examples, clearly distinguish between finite resources (like crude oil) and renewable resources (like wood).
See it
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Finite resources
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Renewable resources
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Fractional distillation
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Cracking
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See every definition
- Finite resources
- Resources that are being depleted faster than they are naturally replaced, such as fossil fuels and metal ores.
- Renewable resources
- Resources such as timber and fresh water, which are not being depleted faster than they are naturally replaced.
- Fractional distillation
- A processing method that separates crude oil by boiling point to provide fuels and petrochemicals.
- Cracking
- A processing method that breaks larger molecules into smaller ones to provide fuels and petrochemicals.
Label the diagram
Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.
1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3
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