![knowt logo](https://s3.amazonaws.com/knowt.com/images/PDFLogo.png)
AQA GCSE Chemistry Trilogy: Reduce, Recycle & Reuce
Reduce, Recycle & Reuse:
RECYCLING: The process of collecting and processing materials so that they can be used again.
Aluminium:
Is a recyclable metal
~ 8kg used per person annually
2% of all power is used to create aluminium
Bauxite ore is mined and crushed to collect aluminium oxide (Al2O3). This is then made molten to extract the metal via electrolysis, which requires lots of energy
Recycling Metal is Important as:
Ores are becoming extremely scarce
It is expensive to extract metals from ores
The obtaining and production of metals can damage the environment
Environmental Considerations:
Transportation and Digging:
Requires burning of fossil fuels
Increases greenhouse gas emissions
Scarring of the Landscape:
Mining destroys habitats, reducing the biodiversity
Dust and Noise Pollution:
Vehicles can produce dust and noise pollution
These can make life frustrating and have potential health risks
Toxic Waste Runoff:
Water becomes polluted from rain through exposed ores and slag heaps
The groundwater becomes filled with heavy metals
Open-cost mining → Requires lots of energy → Energy demands have environmental consequences → Recycling reduces our energy demands
AQA GCSE Chemistry Trilogy: Reduce, Recycle & Reuce
Reduce, Recycle & Reuse:
RECYCLING: The process of collecting and processing materials so that they can be used again.
Aluminium:
Is a recyclable metal
~ 8kg used per person annually
2% of all power is used to create aluminium
Bauxite ore is mined and crushed to collect aluminium oxide (Al2O3). This is then made molten to extract the metal via electrolysis, which requires lots of energy
Recycling Metal is Important as:
Ores are becoming extremely scarce
It is expensive to extract metals from ores
The obtaining and production of metals can damage the environment
Environmental Considerations:
Transportation and Digging:
Requires burning of fossil fuels
Increases greenhouse gas emissions
Scarring of the Landscape:
Mining destroys habitats, reducing the biodiversity
Dust and Noise Pollution:
Vehicles can produce dust and noise pollution
These can make life frustrating and have potential health risks
Toxic Waste Runoff:
Water becomes polluted from rain through exposed ores and slag heaps
The groundwater becomes filled with heavy metals
Open-cost mining → Requires lots of energy → Energy demands have environmental consequences → Recycling reduces our energy demands