AQA · Chemistry · 8462
GCSE Chemistry: Potable water
Using resources · AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462), specification point 4.10.1.2. Cards are generated from the exam board's own specification for "Potable water", and every card links back to the page it came from. Specification © AQA — used with attribution.
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What is potable water?
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Water that is safe to drink — with sufficiently low levels of dissolved salts and microbes.
Why is potable water not pure water in the chemical sense?
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It still contains dissolved substances; pure water is a single substance (H₂O only).
Where does the UK's fresh water for potable supply mainly come from?
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Rain, which has low levels of dissolved substances and collects in the ground, lakes and rivers.
What is the first step in producing potable water from fresh water in the UK?
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Choosing an appropriate source of fresh water.
Why is fresh water passed through filter beds during water treatment?
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To remove solid particles and undissolved material.
Why is fresh water sterilised during the production of potable water?
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To kill microbes (harmful bacteria) so the water is safe to drink.
Name one sterilising agent used to treat potable water.
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Chlorine (alternatives: ozone or ultraviolet light).
When is desalination of sea water needed to produce potable water?
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When supplies of fresh water are limited.
Name the two methods of desalinating salty water.
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Distillation, and membrane processes such as reverse osmosis.
Desalination by membrane processes is an example of ?.
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reverse osmosis
What is the main drawback of desalination processes such as distillation?
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They require large amounts of energy, making them expensive.
Why is ground water easier to treat than salty water?
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Ground water already has low levels of dissolved substances, so it only needs filtering and sterilising; salty water needs energy-intensive desalination.
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