Students should be able to: state examples of natural products that are…

The idea

Natural products are those obtained from plants, animals or the Earth without chemical synthesis. Examples include rubber from trees, cotton, wool, timber, and plant oils. Agricultural products are grown or farmed, such as crops and livestock, while synthetic products are made by chemical processes, such as synthetic rubber, nylon, polyester and fertilisers. A natural product is supplemented when it is still used but additional synthetic or agricultural material is produced alongside it; it is replaced when the synthetic product takes over its role. Finite resources, such as crude oil, coal, natural gas and metal ores, cannot be replaced as they are used. Renewable resources, such as timber, solar energy, wind and water, are replenished naturally at a rate that can match use. To distinguish them, ask whether the resource is being used faster than it is replaced.

What earns the marks

• Natural products include rubber, cotton, wool, timber and plant oils obtained from living organisms or the Earth.
• Agricultural products are grown or farmed, for example crops, livestock and biofuels.
• Synthetic products are made by chemical processes, for example synthetic rubber, nylon, polyester and fertilisers.
• A natural product is supplemented when synthetic or agricultural alternatives are used alongside it, and replaced when the alternative takes over its role.
• Finite resources such as crude oil, coal, natural gas and metal ores cannot be replaced as they are used.
• Renewable resources such as timber, solar energy, wind and water are replenished naturally and can be used repeatedly if managed carefully.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Calling all man-made materials synthetic while ignoring that agricultural products are also produced by humans.

  Put it right: Agricultural products come from farming, whereas synthetic products come from chemical synthesis.

• Classifying nuclear fuel as renewable.

  Put it right: Uranium is a finite metal ore.

• Assuming any resource that can regrow is automatically renewable regardless of use rate.

  Put it right: Use must not exceed the rate of replacement.

Exam tips

• When asked to distinguish finite from renewable, give the definition of each and then apply it to the named resource.
• For supplement or replace questions, name the natural product and the alternative, then state clearly which term applies and why.
• Use data from the question, such as years of supply remaining or annual production, to support your classification.