A company is choosing between two processes for producing the same mass of metal components for buildings. The metal is obtained from a finite metal ore. In Process R, the dismantled structures must be collected from many different sites and sorted before the metal is recovered.
| Process | Metal obtained from newly mined ore in kg | Metal recovered from dismantled structures in kg | Energy used in MJ | Solid waste produced in kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q | 650 | 350 | 14 000 | 260 |
| R | 250 | 750 | 16 000 | 140 |
Evaluate which process is the more sustainable choice. Use data from the table.
87 exam-style questions on AQA GCSE Chemistry 10.1 Using the Earth's resources and obtaining potable water, covering 10.1.1 Using the Earth's resources and sustainable development, 10.1.2 Potable water, 10.1.3 Waste water treatment, and 10.1.4 Alternative methods of extracting metals. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.