📖 In-Depth Theory
The Earth's Natural Resources
Humans use NATURAL RESOURCES from the Earth — materials and energy obtained from the natural environment.
Types of resources:
MINERALS AND METALS — extracted from the Earth's crust (iron ore, aluminium ore, copper ore).
FOSSIL FUELS — coal, oil, natural gas (non-renewable — takes millions of years to form).
AIR — nitrogen and oxygen extracted from air.
WATER — freshwater for drinking, industry, agriculture.
BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES — timber, plants, animals.
RENEWABLE vs NON-RENEWABLE:
Non-renewable: fossil fuels, minerals, metals — finite, will run out. Formed over millions of years.
Renewable: timber (regrows), some materials can be recycled, energy from sun/wind/water.
Many resources are FINITE — once used, they cannot be replenished in human timescales.
Sustainable Development
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT means meeting the needs of the PRESENT without compromising the ability of FUTURE GENERATIONS to meet their own needs.
This requires balancing:
ECONOMIC GROWTH — industries and livelihoods.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION — not destroying ecosystems or depleting resources.
SOCIAL EQUITY — ensuring all people benefit fairly.
APPLICATIONS IN CHEMISTRY:
GREEN CHEMISTRY — designing chemical processes that minimise waste, use renewable resources and reduce energy consumption.
ATOM ECONOMY — designing reactions that convert as much of the reactants as possible into the desired product (less waste).
USING RENEWABLE FEEDSTOCKS — e.g. bioplastics from plant materials rather than petroleum.
CARBON CAPTURE — storing CO₂ from fossil fuel burning to prevent atmospheric build-up.
SUSTAINABLE USE OF METALS:
Recycle metals rather than mining new ore.
Develop more efficient extraction processes.
Find alternative materials.
Finite Resources and Human Impact
The GROWING GLOBAL POPULATION means:
More food needed → more agricultural land, more fertilisers.
More energy needed → more fossil fuels burned (rising CO₂).
More materials needed → more mining, more deforestation.
More waste produced → more landfill, more pollution.
KEY CONFLICTS:
Extraction of metals: mining disrupts ecosystems, creates waste, uses energy.
Fossil fuels: vital energy source but non-renewable and cause climate change.
Agriculture: feeds billions but uses vast land, water and chemicals.
Why chemistry is important for sustainability:
Chemists develop more efficient processes (less energy, less waste).
Create new materials to replace scarce ones.
Develop renewable energy technologies (solar cells, batteries, fuel cells).
Develop better pollution control.
Find ways to recycle and reuse materials.
⚠️ Common Mistake
Sustainable development does NOT mean stopping all industrial activity — it means developing in ways that preserve resources and environments for future generations. It balances economic, environmental and social needs — not just environmental protection alone.