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Humans rely on the Earth to provide everything we need to survive and develop. This lesson introduces the key ideas behind how we use the Earth's natural resources, the distinction between finite and renewable resources, and the concept of sustainable development. These ideas underpin the entire AQA GCSE Chemistry Topic: Using Resources.
A natural resource is a material that comes from the Earth, the sea or the atmosphere and can be used by humans. Humans have always exploited natural resources to provide warmth, shelter, food and transport.
| Type of Resource | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Natural resource | A material found in or produced by the Earth that can be exploited by humans | Wood, cotton, stone, crude oil, metal ores |
| Synthetic product | A material made by chemical reactions that does not occur naturally | Plastics, nylon, medicines, fertilisers |
As chemistry has developed, humans have been able to create synthetic alternatives to many natural products. For example:
| Natural Product | Synthetic Alternative | Advantage of Synthetic |
|---|---|---|
| Wool | Polyester / Nylon | Cheaper, more uniform, easier to mass-produce |
| Rubber | Synthetic rubber | More consistent properties, wider availability |
| Leather | PVC / polyurethane | Lower cost, no animal welfare issues |
| Willow bark (aspirin precursor) | Synthesised aspirin | Purer, controlled dosage, mass production |
Exam Tip: The AQA specification expects you to appreciate that chemistry provides the ability to make new materials that improve our quality of life. When asked to evaluate, discuss both benefits and drawbacks of replacing natural materials with synthetic ones.
Resources can be classified based on how quickly they can be replaced:
| Resource Type | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Finite (non-renewable) | Resources that are being used up faster than they can be formed; they will eventually run out | Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), metal ores, minerals |
| Renewable | Resources that can be replenished at the same rate as, or faster than, they are used | Wood (from managed forests), crops, wind, solar, tidal |
graph TD
A[Earth's Resources] --> B[Finite / Non-renewable]
A --> C[Renewable]
B --> D[Fossil Fuels]
B --> E[Metal Ores]
B --> F[Minerals]
C --> G[Wood from managed forests]
C --> H[Crops and biofuels]
C --> I[Wind / Solar / Tidal energy]
style A fill:#e3f2fd,stroke:#1565c0
style B fill:#ffcdd2,stroke:#c62828
style C fill:#c8e6c9,stroke:#2e7d32
style D fill:#ffcdd2,stroke:#c62828
style E fill:#ffcdd2,stroke:#c62828
style F fill:#ffcdd2,stroke:#c62828
style G fill:#c8e6c9,stroke:#2e7d32
style H fill:#c8e6c9,stroke:#2e7d32
style I fill:#c8e6c9,stroke:#2e7d32
Exam Tip: Be careful not to confuse finite with non-existent. Finite resources still exist but are being depleted. The key point is that they form far more slowly than they are consumed — for example, fossil fuels take millions of years to form.
Sustainable development means meeting the needs of the present population without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This is one of the most important concepts in this topic.
Sustainable development requires a balance between:
| Factor | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Economic needs | People need jobs, income and affordable products |
| Environmental protection | Ecosystems, habitats and biodiversity must be preserved |
| Social wellbeing | Communities need clean water, clean air and a healthy environment |
Chemistry helps achieve sustainability in several ways:
Farming is one of the most significant ways humans use natural resources. Agriculture provides food for the global population, but it also requires:
| Resource Used in Agriculture | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Land | Growing crops and rearing livestock |
| Water | Irrigation of crops, drinking water for animals |
| Fertilisers | Replacing minerals in soil (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) |
| Pesticides | Protecting crops from insect damage |
| Energy | Powering machinery, heating greenhouses, transporting produce |
The challenge is to produce enough food without depleting resources or causing long-term environmental damage. Intensive farming maximises yield but can harm the environment through pollution, soil erosion and habitat destruction.
Exam Tip: AQA may ask you to discuss the competing demands on natural resources. Always consider both sides — humans need resources for development, but over-exploitation damages the environment. A balanced answer that considers sustainability will score highest.
Water is perhaps the most important natural resource. It is used for:
In the UK, most drinking water comes from surface water (rivers, lakes, reservoirs) and groundwater (water stored in permeable rocks called aquifers). Different regions rely on different sources depending on local geology and rainfall patterns.
Exam Tip: When writing about sustainable development, always link your answer to a specific resource or process. Vague statements like "we should be sustainable" will not score marks — you need to explain how and why a particular approach is more sustainable.