This definitions covers Key Definitions within Finite & Renewable Resources for GCSE Chemistry. Revise Finite & Renewable Resources in Using Resources for GCSE Chemistry with 20 exam-style questions and 17 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 11 of 16 in this topic. Make sure you can use the exact wording confidently, because definition marks are often lost through vague language.
📖 Key Definitions
Finite resource: A material that exists in limited quantities and cannot be replenished within human timescales once used — for example, coal, oil, natural gas, and metal ores.
Renewable resource: A material or energy source that is naturally replenished within human timescales through biological or physical processes — for example, solar energy, wind, biomass, and wood.
Sustainable development: Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Circular economy: An economic model that keeps materials in use for as long as possible by designing out waste — products are repaired, reused, or recycled rather than discarded.
Non-renewable resource: Another term for a finite resource — one that cannot be replaced once consumed (used interchangeably with finite in GCSE Chemistry).
Practice questions for Finite & Renewable Resources
Which of the following best describes a finite resource?
State what is meant by sustainable development and give two examples of how chemistry can contribute to it.