The Earth’s resources (AQA GCSE Chemistry Combined Science): Revision Notes
The Earth's resources
What are Earth's resources?
Earth's resources are materials we get from our planet that are crucial for people to survive and live well. We use these resources to keep warm, build homes, grow food, and travel from place to place.
These resources help humans meet their basic needs for warmth, shelter, food and transport.
Understanding Earth's resources is essential because they form the foundation of human civilisation and determine how societies develop and sustain themselves over time.
Types of Earth's resources
Plants and crops
- Cotton plants are grown and turned into clothing
- Food crops are grown using fertilisers to help them grow better
- Plants give us materials for making many everyday items
Trees and timber
- Trees grow naturally in forests
- We can also plant and grow trees on farms
- Timber from trees is used to build houses and make furniture
- Trees are renewable because we can plant new ones to replace those we cut down
The renewable nature of trees makes them particularly valuable as a sustainable resource, provided we manage forests responsibly through replanting and conservation efforts.
Metals and ores
- Metals like iron come from rocks called ores that we dig from the ground
- Iron is turned into steel for building frameworks and structures
- Once we use up metal ores from the ground, they cannot be replaced
Ocean resources
- Fish and seafood come from oceans naturally
- Some fish are also farmed in controlled environments
- Oceans provide an important food source for many people
Crude oil
- Crude oil is a finite resource - this means once we use it up, it's gone forever
- Oil is used in industrial processes like making plastics
- We use oil to make synthetic products like fuels and plastic materials
Crude oil and metals are finite resources that cannot be renewed once depleted. This makes their sustainable use and conservation critically important for future generations.
Sustainable development
Sustainable development means using resources in a smart way. Understanding this concept is crucial for managing Earth's resources responsibly.
Sustainable Development Definition
A process is sustainable if it:
- Meets our needs today - gives us what we need right now
- Protects the future - doesn't harm the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
This means we need to be careful about how we use Earth's resources so there will still be enough for people in the future.
Example: Copper supplies
Worked Example: Calculating Resource Lifespan
Copper is an important metal, but it's finite. Scientists calculate how long our copper supplies might last:
Step 1: Identify known reserves
- Current copper reserves = 684 million tonnes
Step 2: Determine annual usage
- Annual consumption = 18 million tonnes per year
Step 3: Calculate lifespan
- Resource lifespan = 684 ÷ 18 = 38 years
However, copper supplies might not actually run out because:
- We recycle used copper products
- We might discover new copper deposits in the future
Key Points to Remember:
- Earth's resources provide everything humans need for warmth, shelter, food and transport
- Finite resources like crude oil and metals will eventually run out once used
- Renewable resources like trees can be replaced if managed properly
- Sustainable development means meeting today's needs without harming future generations
- Recycling helps make finite resources last longer by reusing materials