Using the Earth's Resources
Key Words
Ceramics - non-metal solids with a high melting points that aren't made from carbon-based compounds. They're insulators of heat and electriciy.
Polymers - insulators of heat and electricity, they can be flexible and are easily moulded.
Metals - malleable, good conductros of heat and electricity, ductile, shiny and stiff.
Alloys - made by adding another element to the metal.
Composites - made of one material embedded in another.
Thermosoftening polymers - contain individual polymer chains entwined toghter with weak forces between the chains.
Thermosetting polymers - contain monomers that can form cross-links between the polymer chains holding the chains together in a solid structure.
Corrosion - metals react with substances in their environment and are gradually destroyed.
Rust - the corrosion of iron.
The Haber Process - used to make ammonia from hydrogen and nitrogen, which is used to make fertilisers.
NPK fertilisers - formulations containing salts of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in the right percentages of the elements.
Also see Polymers, Resource Management
