The Earth and Its Resources Quiz

Potable water is water that is safe to drink but may contain dissolved minerals and other substances. Pure water contains only H₂O molecules with no impurities.

1. Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
2. Deforestation reduces the number of trees that absorb carbon dioxide.

Phytomining: Plants absorb copper compounds from the soil and are then burned; the ash contains copper.

Bioleaching: Bacteria break down copper compounds in ores, producing a solution that contains copper.

Recycling metals reduces the need for mining, which decreases habitat destruction, pollution, and energy consumption.

It contained large amounts of carbon dioxide, water vapour, and little to no oxygen. Today’s atmosphere is mainly nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%).

An LCA assesses the environmental impact of a product throughout its entire lifecycle, from raw material extraction to disposal.

• Nitrogen (N): Promotes leaf and stem growth.
• Phosphorus (P): Helps root development.
• Potassium (K): Encourages flower and fruit production.

Seawater is desalinated using distillation or reverse osmosis to remove salt and impurities.

1. Crude oil (used to make fuels and plastics).
2. Metals (used for construction, wiring, and tools).

It reacts nitrogen from the air with hydrogen (from natural gas) under high temperature and pressure, using an iron catalyst.