1. Procedures: Transitivity

1.1. Procedures

In science, a procedure is a specific, step-by-step set of instructions used to conduct an experiment or investigation. Its primary purpose is to ensure that the experiment is fair, safe, and reproducible.

A scientific procedure follows a strict “register” or style of writing:

Sequential: It follows a chronological order (1, 2, 3…).

Processes: Verbs are command-based “imperative” verbs (e.g., Pour, Measure, Heat).

Participants: Nouns are variables and equipment (5g Zinc Oxide, 100mL Beaker).

Precise: It includes exact measurements (e.g., 50 mL, 10 minutes, 25°C).

Circumstances: They are objective, avoiding personal opinions and focusing only on the actions.

1.2. Lighting the Bunsen burner

Do you notice any patterns in the text below?

Steps for light a Bunsen burner are listed below.

Place the Bunsen burner on the heatproof mat.
Connect the rubber tubing to the gas tap.
Close the collar.
Light the match.
Hold the lit match above the barrel of the Bunsen burner.
Turn on the gas.
Shake out the match.
Observe the flame.
Turn off the gas.

1.3. Transitivity Analysis

Transitivity Analysis is a grammatical framework used to explore how meanings are encoded in a clause by identifying the Process (the action or state), the Participants (the entities involved), and the Circumstances (the background details like time, place, or manner).

Probe questions are used to identify the Process, Participants and Circumstances.

Process : “What is happening? What is the doing, sensing, saying, or being?”
Participants : “Who or what is involved in this process?”
Circumstances : “Where, when, why, how is it happening?”

1.4. Step 1: identify the processes.

In these procedural steps, the Process is the command verb that starts each instruction.

To identify each Process, ask “What is happening? What is the doing, sensing, saying, or being?”

Place the Bunsen burner on the heatproof mat.
“Place” is the process.
Place the Bunsen burner on the heatproof mat.

Process

Identify each Process : “What is happening? What is the doing, sensing, saying, or being?”

Place the Bunsen burner on the heatproof mat.
Connect the rubber tubing to the gas tap.
Close the collar.
Light the match.
Hold the lit match above the barrel of the Bunsen burner.
Turn on the gas.
Shake out the match.
Observe the flame.
Turn off the gas.

1.5. Step 2: Identify the participants

In these procedural steps, the Participant is usually a concrete noun — the specific tool or ingredient being used. The person doing the action is omitted (ellipsed).

To identify each Participant, ask “Who or what is involved in this process?”

Place the Bunsen burner on the heatproof mat.
“the Bunsen burner” is the participant.
Place the Bunsen burner on the heatproof mat.

Participants

Identify each Participant : “Who or what is involved in this process?”

Place the Bunsen burner on the heatproof mat.
Connect the rubber tubing to the gas tap.
Close the collar.
Light the match.
Hold the lit match above the barrel of the Bunsen burner.
Turn on the gas.
Shake out the match.
Observe the flame.
Turn off the gas.

1.6. Step 3: Identify the circumstances

In these procedural steps, circumstances of Manner (how), Place (where), and Extent (how long) are used to ensure safety and accuracy.

To identify each Circumstance, ask “Where, when, why, how is it happening?”.

Place the Bunsen burner on the heatproof mat.
“on the heatproof mat” is the circumstance.
Place the Bunsen burner on the heatproof mat.

Circumstances

Identify each Circumstances : “Where, when, why, how is it happening?”

Place the Bunsen burner on the heatproof mat.
Connect the rubber tubing to the gas tap.
Close the collar.
Light the match.
Hold the lit match above the barrel of the Bunsen burner.
Turn on the gas.
Shake out the match.
Observe the flame.
Turn off the gas.

Transitivity Analysis: Lighting a Bunsen Burner

This table breaks down each step into its functional grammatical parts.

Process	Participant	Circumstance
Place	the Bunsen burner	on the heatproof mat
Connect	the rubber tubing	to the gas tap
Close	the collar
Light	the match
Hold	the lit match	above the barrel of the Bunsen burner
Turn on	the gas
Shake out	the match
Observe	the flame
Turn off	the gas

1.7. Heating a test tube

Follow these steps to safely light a Bunsen burner, heat a substance, and store the equipment.

Fill a test tube with water to one third full.
Place the test tube in a test tube rack until ready to heat it.
Place the Bunsen burner on the heatproof mat.
Connect the rubber tubing to the gas tap.
Close the collar.
Light the match.
Hold the lit match just above the barrel of the Bunsen burner.
Turn on the gas.
Shake out the match.
Observe the yellow safety flame.
Hold the test tube with a wooden test tube holder.
Open the collar to get a blue heating flame.
Place the test tube in the blue flame at a 45-degree angle, pointing away from others.
Move the test tube gently in and out of the flame to ensure even heating.
Close the collar to return to the yellow safety flame once heating is finished.
Turn off the gas at the tap.
Place the hot test tube into a wooden test tube rack to cool.

1.8. Step 1: identify the processes.

In these procedural steps, the Process is the command verb that starts each instruction.

Process

Identify each Process : “What is happening? What is the doing, sensing, saying, or being?”

Fill a test tube with water to one third full.
Place the test tube in a test tube rack until ready to heat it.
Place the Bunsen burner on the heatproof mat.
Connect the rubber tubing to the gas tap.
Close the collar.
Light the match.
Hold the lit match just above the barrel of the Bunsen burner.
Turn on the gas.
Shake out the match.
Observe the yellow safety flame.
Hold the test tube with a wooden test tube holder.
Open the collar to get a blue heating flame.
Place the test tube in the blue flame at a 45-degree angle, pointing away from others.
Move the test tube gently in and out of the flame to ensure even heating.
Close the collar to return to the yellow safety flame once heating is finished.
Turn off the gas at the tap.
Place the hot test tube into a wooden test tube rack to cool.

1.9. Step 2: Identify the participants

In these procedural steps, the Participant is usually a concrete noun — the specific tool or ingredient being used. The person doing the action is omitted (ellipsed).

Participants

Identify each Participant : “Who or what is involved in this process?”

Fill a test tube with water to one third full.
Place the test tube in a test tube rack until ready to heat it.
Place the Bunsen burner on the heatproof mat.
Connect the rubber tubing to the gas tap.
Close the collar.
Light the match.
Hold the lit match just above the barrel of the Bunsen burner.
Turn on the gas.
Shake out the match.
Observe the yellow safety flame.
Hold the test tube with a wooden test tube holder.
Open the collar to get a blue heating flame.
Place the test tube in the blue flame at a 45-degree angle, pointing away from others.
Move the test tube gently in and out of the flame to ensure even heating.
Close the collar to return to the yellow safety flame once heating is finished.
Turn off the gas at the tap.
Place the hot test tube into a wooden test tube rack to cool.

1.10. Step 3: Identify the circumstances

In these procedural steps, circumstances of Manner (how), Place (where), and Extent (how long) are used to ensure safety and accuracy.

Circumstances

Identify each Circumstances : “Where, when, why, how is it happening?”

Fill a test tube with water to one third full.
Place the test tube in a test tube rack until ready to heat it.
Place the Bunsen burner on the heatproof mat.
Connect the rubber tubing to the gas tap.
Close the collar.
Light the match.
Hold the lit match just above the barrel of the Bunsen burner.
Turn on the gas.
Shake out the match.
Observe the yellow safety flame.
Hold the test tube with a wooden test tube holder.
Open the collar to get a blue heating flame.
Place the test tube in the blue flame at a 45-degree angle, pointing away from others.
Move the test tube gently in and out of the flame to ensure even heating.
Close the collar to return to the yellow safety flame once heating is finished.
Turn off the gas at the tap.
Place the hot test tube into a wooden test tube rack to cool.

This table breaks down each step into its functional grammatical parts.

Transitivity Analysis: Heating a Test Tube
Process	Participant	Circumstance
Fill	a test tube	with water to one third full
Place	the test tube	in a test tube rack until ready to heat it
Place	the Bunsen burner	on the heatproof mat
Connect	the rubber tubing	to the gas tap
Close	the collar
Light	the match
Hold	the lit match	just above the barrel of the Bunsen burner
Turn on	the gas
Shake out	the match
Observe	the yellow safety flame
Hold	the test tube	with a wooden test tube holder
Open	the collar	to get a blue heating flame
Place	the test tube	in the blue flame at a 45-degree angle, pointing away from others
Move	the test tube	gently in and out of the flame to ensure even heating
Close	the collar	to return to the yellow safety flame once heating is finished
Turn off	the gas	at the tap
Place	the hot test tube	into a wooden test tube rack to cool

1.11. Heating Zinc Oxide

Steps for light a Bunsen burner are listed below.

Some sentences start with a circumstance.

Transitivity Analysis: Heating Zinc Oxide

Identify each Process : “What is happening? What is the doing, sensing, saying, or being?” Identify each Participant : “Who or what is involved in this process?” Identify each Circumstances : “Where, when, why, how is it happening?”

First, fill a test tube with zinc oxide powder to a height of about 1 cm.
Then, place the test tube in a test tube rack until ready to heat it.
Place the Bunsen burner centrally on the heatproof mat.
Connect the rubber tubing firmly to the gas tap.
Close the collar completely.
Next, light the match at a safe distance from the body.
Hold the lit match just above the barrel of the Bunsen burner.
Simultaneously, turn on the gas at the wall tap.
Shake out the match immediately once the flame is lit.
Observe the yellow safety flame for a moment to ensure stability.
Before heating, secure the test tube firmly with a wooden test tube holder.
Slowly open the collar until a blue heating flame is achieved.
Place the test tube in the blue flame at a 45-degree angle, pointing the mouth away from other people.
Move the test tube constantly in and out of the flame until the powder changes color from white to yellow.
Once finished, close the collar to return to the yellow safety flame.
Place the hot test tube carefully into a wooden test tube rack to cool undisturbed.
Finally, turn off the gas at the tap completely.

1.12. Reaction: hydrochloric acid with magnesium ribbon

Here is the procedure for reacting hydrochloric acid with magnesium ribbon.

Some sentences start with a circumstance.

Transitivity Analysis: Mg in HCl

Identify each Process : “What is happening? What is the doing, sensing, saying, or being?” Identify each Participant : “Who or what is involved in this process?” Identify each Circumstances : “Where, when, why, how is it happening?”

First, pour 5 mL of dilute hydrochloric acid into a clean test tube.
Then, place the test tube securely in a test tube rack.
Cut a 2 cm strip of magnesium ribbon using scissors.
Clean the surface of the magnesium ribbon with emery paper to remove any oxide layer.
Coil the magnesium ribbon slightly so it fits easily into the test tube.
Next, drop the magnesium ribbon into the acid.
Observe the rapid effervescence and the heat produced by the reaction.
Once the reaction has ceased, place the test tube back into the rack to cool.
Finally, dispose of the remaining solution according to laboratory safety instructions and rinse the equipment.

1.13. Reaction: lead(II) nitrate with potassium iodide

Here is the procedure for performing a precipitation reaction.

Some sentences start with a circumstance.

Transitivity Analysis: precipitation reaction

Identify each Process : “What is happening? What is the doing, sensing, saying, or being?” Identify each Participant : “Who or what is involved in this process?” Identify each Circumstances : “Where, when, why, how is it happening?”

First, pour 10 mL of lead(II) nitrate solution into a clean beaker.
Then, measure 10 mL of potassium iodide solution using a graduated cylinder.
Carefully add the potassium iodide to the beaker.
Observe the immediate formation of a bright yellow precipitate.
Stir the mixture gently with a glass rod to ensure the reaction is complete.
Next, place a funnel lined with filter paper into a conical flask.
Slowly pour the mixture through the filter paper to separate the solid.
Once the liquid has drained, rinse the solid with a small amount of deionized water.
Finally, dispose of the heavy metal waste in the designated container and clean the glassware.

Exercise: Procedures & Transitivity Analysis

Write a procedure for and carry out Transitivity Analysis for:

Filtering sand from a salt solution.
Making a saturated salt solution.
Testing the pH of acetic aid.