Question detail
What is the difference between potable water and chemically pure water?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
Question
Type
exam_style
Style
Topic
Using the Earth's resources and obtaining potable water
Question
What is the difference between potable water and chemically pure water?
Answer
Potable water is water that is safe to drink and contains low levels of dissolved salts and microbes, while chemically pure water is water that contains only H2O molecules and no impurities. Potable water may have some dissolved substances that are safe for consumption.
Explanation
A strong answer should directly address the approved learning objective to explain why desalination processes require large amounts of energy. This question belongs to Potable water within Using the Earth's resources and obtaining potable water, so the response should use that exact curriculum context rather than a generic statement. The answer is correct when it names the key idea, explains the link to desalination, and keeps the wording specific to AQA GCSE revision.
Common mistake
Desalination Energy Requirements
Students often think that desalination processes require energy only for the actual separation of salt from water.
Emphasize that energy is also needed for the initial heating of water and maintaining the pressure in processes like reverse osmosis.
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