Life Cycle Assessment

Topic 10 - Using Resources
Written By Atheridge Tuition

Coffee shops serve drinks in containers made from either ceramics or a synthetic polymer.

Evaluate the use of each. Refer directly to the stages of a life cycle assessment (LCA) and the data provided in Figure 1.

[6 marks]

Provided comparison of ceramic vs polymer cup as part of the question. It shows values for energy for raw materials and manufacture, mass of a cup, average number of uses and end-of-life disposal.

  • Group 7 elements form small molecules. (1 marks)

    Individual chlorine atoms are held in together in pairs with:

    • Strong covalent bonds

    Different chlorine molecules are held together with:

    • Weak intermolecular forces

Diagram showing the four stages of a life cycle assessment: raw materials, manufacture, use and disposal.

  • See highlights in Figure 1 below.

Life cycle assessment comparison table with raw materials, manufacture, use and disposal colour-coded to match the four LCA stages.

  • Ceramic needs more energy to extract (6500 kJ) from the table. (1 mark)

    Raw material is sand which needs mining. This causes pollution. (1 mark)

    For Polymer, crude oil is finite (runs out). (1 mark)

    So higher melting and boiling points.

Comparison of raw materials showing ceramic cups require more energy to extract raw materials, while polymer cups use finite crude oil resources.

  • Ceramic needs more energy for manufacture (1000 kJ) as shown in the table.

    A ceramic cup Is heavier (250g) so needs more energy to transport. (1 mark)

Manufacturing comparison showing ceramic cups require more energy to manufacture and are heavier, increasing transport energy.

  • Ceramic has a higher number of uses which conserves resources.

    But washing the cup consumes WATER & ENERGY.

    (2 marks)

Use stage comparison showing ceramic cups can be reused many times, conserving resources, but require water and energy for washing.

  • Both are recyclable based on the table.

    This:

    • conserves resources

    • reduces landfill

    • requires less energy to make new products

    (1 mark)

Disposal comparison showing ceramic cups are crushed for aggregate while polymer cups can be recycled, conserving resources and reducing landfill.

  • Total energy for ceramic higher at 7500 kJ (6500 + 1000).

    (1 mark)

Total energy comparison showing ceramic cups require approximately 7,500 kJ across extraction and manufacture compared with about 1,910 kJ for polymer cups.
 
 

Continue Revising Topic 10

GCSE Chemistry Visuals
Life Cycle Assessment
Life Cycle Assessment
Corrosion
Corrosion
Le Chatelier’s Principle
Le Chatelier’s Principle
Haber Process
Haber Process
Potable Water
Potable Water
Wastewater Treatment
Wastewater Treatment
Analysing Water Samples
Analysing Water Samples
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