Question
Explain the environmental and economic benefits of recycling aluminium rather than extracting new aluminium from its ore (bauxite). [6]
Mark scheme — level 3 (5–6): energy savings + environmental benefits + economic reasoning.
- Recycling aluminium uses only ~5% of the energy required for electrolysis of new aluminium / saves ~95% energy (B1)
- Lower energy consumption → lower CO₂ emissions from electricity generation (B1)
- Less bauxite mining required → reduced habitat destruction / land damage (B1)
- Mining produces toxic red mud waste (sodium aluminate) — recycling avoids this (B1)
- Aluminium can be recycled indefinitely without loss of properties (B1)
- Economic: lower energy costs → cheaper aluminium; preserves finite ore reserves (B1)
6 marks · take your time before peeking.
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Generated by TopMyGrade AI · cross-check official sources before relying on the mark-scheme phrasing.