Ways of reducing the use of resources - AQA GCSE Chemistry Exam Questions

Practise 31 exam-style questions on Ways of reducing the use of resources for AQA GCSE Chemistry. Write your answer as you would in the exam and get it marked in seconds against the mark scheme, point by point, with an AI tutor on hand if you get stuck.

31 questions
1–6 marks each
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20 questions, marked as you go

Sample questions with model answers

Here are 4 of the questions in this topic, each with a model answer, an explanation of why it earns the marks and the mark scheme an examiner would use.

Question 1

2 marks

Metals, glass, building materials, clay ceramics and most plastics are produced from limited raw materials.

Explain what is meant by a limited raw material. Give one example.

Model answer

A limited raw material is one that is finite: it is not being replaced as fast as it is used, so it will eventually run out. An example is iron ore.

Explanation

Materials obtained from the Earth by mining and quarrying, such as ores, limestone and crude oil, are finite. Using less of them, reusing and recycling make them last longer.

Mark scheme

1 mark
a raw material that will run out / is not being replaced (as fast as it is used) / is finite
allow non-renewable
1 mark
example: metal ores / crude oil / limestone / sand / clay
allow any named ore, e.g. iron ore, bauxite

Question 2

2 marks

A drinks company redesigns its plastic bottles so that each bottle contains 20% less plastic.

Explain how this reduces the use of limited resources.

Model answer

Each bottle needs less plastic, so less crude oil is used as a raw material. Less energy is also needed to make the bottles, and the lighter bottles use less fuel to transport.

Explanation

Reducing the amount of material used is the first of the three Rs. It saves raw materials and energy at every stage, without any extra energy for collection or reprocessing.

Mark scheme

1 mark
less plastic is needed, so less crude oil is used
1 mark
less energy (from fossil fuels) is needed to make and transport the bottles
allow lighter bottles use less fuel to transport

Question 3

3 marks

Limestone is quarried to make building materials and glass.

Give three environmental impacts of quarrying limestone.

Model answer

Quarrying destroys habitats, causes noise and dust from blasting and machinery, and leaves a large scar on the landscape.

Explanation

Obtaining raw materials from the Earth by quarrying and mining has environmental impacts. Reducing, reusing and recycling materials reduces the amount of quarrying needed.

Mark scheme

1 mark
destroys habitats
max 3
1 mark
scars the landscape / visual pollution
1 mark
noise (from blasting / machinery)
1 mark
dust
1 mark
more lorries / traffic, releasing carbon dioxide and pollutants
allow uses energy / burns fossil fuels
1 mark
waste rock / spoil heaps

Question 4

4 marks

The table shows the energy used to make steel when different percentages of scrap steel are used.

Calculate the energy saved by making 500 tonnes of steel from 100% scrap steel rather than from 0% scrap steel, and the percentage saving. Suggest one reason why not all steel is made from 100% scrap steel.

Table with columns "Percentage of scrap steel used", "Energy used per tonne of steel in GJ". Percentage of scrap steel used: 0; Energy used per tonne of steel in GJ: 20 | Percentage of scrap steel used: 50; Energy used per tonne of steel in GJ: 14 | Percentage of scrap steel used: 100; Energy used per tonne of steel in GJ: 8.

Model answer

energy saved per tonne = 20 − 8 = 12 GJ
energy saved for 500 tonnes = 12 × 500 = 6000 GJ
percentage saving = (12 ÷ 20) × 100 = 60%
Not all steel is made from scrap because there is not enough scrap steel available to meet the demand for steel.

Explanation

Work out the saving per tonne first, then scale up. Recycling steel saves a lot of energy, but the amount of scrap is limited and it may contain other metals, so new iron from iron ore is still needed.

Mark scheme

1 mark
energy saved per tonne = 20 − 8 = 12 (GJ)
correct answer with no working scores full marks
1 mark
energy saved for 500 tonnes = 12 × 500 = 6000 (GJ)
allow ecf; allow (20 × 500) − (8 × 500) = 10 000 − 4000
1 mark
percentage saving = 12 ÷ 20 × 100 = 60 (%)
allow 6000 ÷ 10 000 × 100
1 mark
not enough scrap steel is available / scrap contains other metals or impurities that affect the properties / some steels need a precise composition

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