Natural and Synthetic Resources

Organize these options into the right categories

Groups:

(a) Renewable

,

(b) Nonrenewable

• trees

• land

• solar energy

• chickens

• natural gas

• plastic

• wind energy

• geothermal energy

• coal

• uranium

• water

• oil

Complete the sentences with terms from the word bank. 1. A ​ (a)   resource can be regenerated or replenished by natural processes. 2. There are limited amounts of​ (b)   resources on Earth.

3. ​ (c)   are renewable resources.

4. ​ (d)   are nonrenewable resources.

• Renewable
• Petroleum
• Nonrenewable
• Plants
• fingernails
• rubber
• rats on wheels

Complete the sentences with terms from the word bank. 3. ________ and ________ are renewable resources.

• Plants

• Sunlight

• oil

• fire

• plastic

What might happen to a renewable resource, like trees, if we use them faster than they can be replenished? Justify your prediction.

What is a synthetic product?

• A synthetic product is a product made from organic materials.
• A synthetic product is a product that is not harmful to the environment.
• A synthetic product is a naturally occurring substance found in the environment.
• A synthetic product is a man-made product that is created through chemical synthesis.

How are synthetic products made?​

(In a very generalized sense/ starting from the yellow going to the red)

a

b

c

d

Refine the resource

Use the item.

Process the item for usage

Gather the resource

What are the pros and cons to making synthetic products from natural resources?

How do you think the distribution of natural resources, like fertile soil, affect the location of human settlement? Justify your answer with an example.

What affects the distribution of biodiversity on Earth (i.e. why are some places more rich in minerals and others not? Why do some places have lots of fertile land and others not?)

Define the following terms: Trade.