Natural Resources And Sustainable Development
Emmanuel Opoku
Teacher
Contents
Natural Resources & Sustainable Development
What Are Natural Resources?
Definition:
Natural resources are materials or substances that occur naturally on Earth and are used by humans to meet their needs for warmth, shelter, food, and transport.
Examples include:
- Air (for breathing, fuel combustion)
- Water (for drinking, cleaning, industry)
- Rocks and minerals (for building, metals)
- Plants and animals (for food, clothing, timber)
Humans use these resources directly or process them into new materials (e.g. crude oil → plastic).
Types of Resources
Rubber from trees is now often replaced with synthetic rubber, and wood with plastic composites.
Finite vs Renewable Resources
|
Resource Type |
Definition |
Examples |
|---|---|---|
|
Finite (non-renewable) |
Will eventually run out; formed extremely slowly |
Fossil fuels, crude oil, metal ores |
|
Renewable |
Replenished naturally at a similar rate to use |
Timber, crops, fresh water, solar energy |
Remember:
- Finite → will eventually run out.
- Renewable → can be replaced within our lifetime.
Better Living Through Chemistry
Chemistry helps replace or improve natural materials.
|
Natural Material |
Source |
Use |
Synthetic Alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Wool |
Sheep |
Clothing |
Polyester fleece |
|
Silk |
Silkworms |
Clothing |
Nylon / satin |
|
Rubber |
Tree sap |
Tyres |
Synthetic rubber |
|
Cotton |
Plants |
Clothing |
Polyester |
|
Wood |
Trees |
Furniture |
Plastic composite |
Chemists design synthetic materials to be more durable, cheaper, or easier to produce at scale.
Example:
Rubber from trees is now often replaced with synthetic rubber, and wood with plastic composites.
Sustainable Development
Definition:
Development that meets the needs of current generations without negatively impacting the ability of future generations to meet their own needs or harming the environment.
Why It Matters
- Our planet has limited finite resources.
- Sustainable processes reduce waste and energy use.
- Chemistry enables recycling, biodegradable materials, and cleaner reactions.
Examples:
- Developing catalysts to lower energy use.
- Recycling metals, plastics, and glass.
- Using renewable energy sources.
Chemistry and Sustainability
Chemists contribute to sustainability by:
- Reducing use of finite resources (e.g. recycling aluminium).
- Replacing finite resources with renewable ones (e.g. biofuels).
- Refining industrial processes to use less energy.
Example:
Using iron catalysts in ammonia manufacture (Haber process) reduces temperature → saves energy and fuel.
Interpreting Resource Data (HT Only)
Scientists analyse data to assess sustainability. You must be able to:
- Extract and interpret data from charts, tables, and graphs.
- Use orders of magnitude to compare time scales and formation rates.
- Evaluate which material is more sustainable based on data.
Example Table
|
Resource |
Energy density (MJ m⁻³) |
Time to form |
Renewable? |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Timber |
8 000 – 11 000 |
10 years |
Yes |
|
Coal |
23 000 – 26 000 |
10⁶ years |
No |
Conclusion: Timber is renewable and has lower energy density but forms quickly; coal gives more energy but is non-renewable.
Practice Questions
1. Recall
a) Define a natural resource.
b) What is meant by a finite resource?
c) Give two examples of renewable resources.
d) State two ways chemists help improve sustainability.
Model Answers:
a) A natural resource is a material obtained from the Earth without human intervention, such as air, water, wood, or minerals.
b) A finite resource is one that will eventually run out because it cannot be replaced on a human timescale (e.g. crude oil, coal, metals).
c) Renewable resources include:
• Solar energy
• Timber (from trees that can be replanted)
d) Chemists improve sustainability by:
• Developing processes that use less energy (e.g. catalysts).
• Designing materials and reactions that produce less waste or use renewable feedstocks.
2. Apply
e) Classify each as finite or renewable:
• Wool • Copper • Crude oil • Timber
f) Suggest one advantage and one disadvantage of using synthetic materials instead of natural ones.
e) Classify each:
|
Material |
Type |
Explanation |
|---|---|---|
|
Wool |
Renewable |
Comes from sheep, can regrow each season. |
|
Copper |
Finite |
Extracted from ores, limited supply. |
|
Crude oil |
Finite |
Formed over millions of years, non-renewable. |
|
Timber |
Renewable |
Trees can be replanted and regrown. |
f)
Advantage: Synthetic materials can be made in large, consistent quantities and have tailored properties (e.g. durability).
Disadvantage: They are often non-biodegradable and made from finite crude oil, causing pollution and waste.
3. Challenge (HT Only)
g) A company can use either timber or plastic composite to make furniture. Evaluate which material is more sustainable using information from the table and your own knowledge.
|
Property |
Timber |
Plastic Composite |
|---|---|---|
|
Energy required to produce (MJ/kg) |
10 |
110 |
|
Average lifespan (years) |
15 |
40 |
|
Time to form naturally |
10 years (tree growth) |
10⁷ years (formation of crude oil) |
|
Recyclability |
High (can be reused or composted) |
Low (difficult to recycle) |
|
Biodegradable? |
Yes |
No |
|
Carbon footprint (kg CO₂/kg) |
0.2 |
2.4 |
g) Timber is renewable and forms in about 10 years, whereas plastic composite depends on crude oil, which takes around 10⁷ years to form 6 orders of magnitude longer. Timber also has a lower energy requirement (10 MJ/kg) and smaller carbon footprint (0.2 kg CO₂/kg) compared to plastic composite (110 MJ/kg, 2.4 kg CO₂/kg).
Although plastic composite lasts longer (40 years) and is more weather-resistant, it is non-biodegradable and hard to recycle. Overall, timber is more sustainable because it can be replaced, biodegrades, and uses far less energy.
Summary
|
Concept |
Description |
Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Natural resource |
Found in nature |
Timber, air, water |
|
Finite resource |
Will eventually run out |
Fossil fuels, ores |
|
Renewable resource |
Replaced naturally |
Crops, sunlight |
|
Sustainability |
Using resources responsibly |
Recycling metals |
|
Chemistry’s role |
Develops efficient, eco-friendly processes |
Catalysts, biofuels |
No answer provided.