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