AQA GCSE Chemistry
AQA GCSE Chemistry 4.10.1 Using the Earth's Resources and Obtaining Potable Water Exam Questions
Free AQA GCSE Chemistry exam questions for 4.10.1 Using the Earth's Resources and Obtaining Potable Water, with a mark scheme for every pack. Covers natural and finite resources, sustainable development, potable water, waste water treatment and alternative methods of extracting metals.
4.10.1 Using the Earth's Resources and Obtaining Potable Water exam questions
2 question packs of real past exam questions, each with its mark scheme. Do not stop after a few: answer as many as you can without notes, then mark every answer with the mark scheme. The more questions you do, the more quickly you will spot how examiners ask about each idea.
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About AQA GCSE Chemistry 4.10.1 Using the Earth's Resources and Obtaining Potable Water
AQA GCSE Chemistry 4.10.1 asks how chemistry helps us use resources sustainably. You learn the difference between finite and renewable resources, how potable (drinking) water is produced from fresh water and sea water, how waste water is treated, and, at Higher tier, biological methods of extracting metals such as phytomining and bioleaching. The required practical involves analysing and purifying water samples. The topic is assessed on Paper 2 and links to the reactivity of metals in 4.4.1 and life cycle assessment in 4.10.2. Questions often ask for the stages of water treatment in order and the reasons for each step.
What you need to know
- Resources and sustainability Humans use Earth's resources for warmth, shelter, food and transport. Natural resources are supplemented by agriculture, and synthetic products replace some natural ones. Sustainable development meets the needs of current generations without compromising future generations.
- Potable water Water that is safe to drink, with low levels of dissolved salts and microbes. It is not pure in the chemical sense. In the UK, rain water is used: an appropriate source is chosen, the water is passed through filter beds, then sterilised with chlorine, ozone or ultraviolet light.
- Desalination Where fresh water is scarce, sea water can be desalinated by distillation or reverse osmosis using membranes. Both require large amounts of energy.
- Waste water treatment Sewage is screened and grit removed, then sedimentation produces sludge and effluent. Sludge undergoes anaerobic digestion; effluent undergoes aerobic biological treatment. Industrial waste water may need extra treatment to remove harmful chemicals.
- Required practical Analyse water samples by testing pH and measuring the mass of dissolved solids left after evaporation, then purify a sample of salt water by distillation.
- Alternative extraction of metals (Higher tier only) Phytomining uses plants to absorb metal compounds; the plants are harvested and burned, and the ash contains metal compounds. Bioleaching uses bacteria to produce leachate solutions containing metal compounds. Copper can then be obtained by displacement with scrap iron or by electrolysis. These methods suit low-grade ores.
Common mistakes in 4.10.1 Using the Earth's Resources and Obtaining Potable Water
- Saying potable water is pure water. It contains dissolved substances but is safe to drink.
- Saying filtration kills microbes. Filtration removes solids; sterilising with chlorine, ozone or UV kills microbes.
- Saying chlorine is added to make water taste better. It is added to kill microbes.
- Forgetting the energy cost when evaluating desalination.
- Mixing up the treatment of sludge (anaerobic digestion) and effluent (aerobic biological treatment).
Try three 4.10.1 Using the Earth's Resources and Obtaining Potable Water exam-style questions
1. Describe how rain water is treated in the UK to make it potable. (3 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
Choose an appropriate source of fresh water; pass through filter beds to remove solids; sterilise with chlorine, ozone or UV light to kill microbes.
2. Explain why desalination is not widely used in the UK. (2 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
Requires large amounts of energy so is expensive; the UK has enough fresh water from rain.
3. Describe how phytomining is used to obtain copper compounds. (3 marks) Higher tier only
Show the mark scheme answer
Plants are grown on soil containing copper compounds and absorb them; plants are harvested and burned; the ash contains copper compounds, which are then processed (by displacement or electrolysis).
4.10.1 Using the Earth's Resources and Obtaining Potable Water FAQs
What does AQA GCSE Chemistry 4.10.1 cover?
It covers natural and finite resources, sustainable development, producing potable water, waste water treatment, the water analysis required practical and, at Higher tier, phytomining and bioleaching.
Which paper is 4.10.1 on?
Section 4.10 Using resources is assessed on AQA GCSE Chemistry Paper 2.
What should I remember for the water purification practical?
Learn how to test pH, how to find the mass of dissolved solids by evaporating a known volume, and how to set up simple distillation with a condenser. Explain that distillation removes dissolved salts.
