3. Mixtures: Verbs → Nouns 3

Science explanations often turn actions (verbs) into things (nouns).

This grammatical change is called nominalisation.

When an action is described with an adverb,

that adverb often becomes an adjective in the noun group.

Your task is to rewrite each short clause by expressing its process as a noun group, incorporating any descriptive words.

3.1. Examples

Verb: Solids melt slowly

Nominalisation: The slow melting of solids

Verb: Water evaporates rapidly from the mixture

Nominalisation: The rapid evaporation of water from the mixture

Grammar Toolkit: Packing the Noun Group

To build a complex scientific noun group, use probe questions to identify the different parts of the clause. You can then “pack” these answers together.

Example Clause: The machine centrifuges the blood rapidly.

Example Clause: The machine centrifuges the blood rapidly.

Example Nominalisation: The rapid centrifugation of blood by the machine

---

Phase Change Processes

Rewrite each clause as a noun group.

Process to Participant

Everyday (process)	Scientific (participant)
Liquids freeze instantly
Steam condenses gradually
Gas particles diffuse slowly
Dry ice sublimes directly
Gas deposits slowly on the surface

Reveal Answer Key

Model Answer

Everyday (process)	Scientific (participant)
Liquids freeze instantly	The instant freezing of liquids
Steam condenses gradually	The gradual condensation of steam
Gas particles diffuse rapidly	The rapid diffusion of gas particles
Dry ice sublimes directly	The direct sublimation of dry ice
Gas deposits slowly on the surface	The slow deposition of gas on the surface

---

Solutions and Dissolving

Rewrite each clause as a noun group.

Process to Participant

Everyday (process)	Scientific (participant)
Salt dissolves quickly in water
Sugar dissolves completely in the solution
The solute mixes evenly through the solvent
The solution forms gradually
Water dissolves the substance effectively

Reveal Answer Key

Model Answer

Everyday (process)	Scientific (participant)
Salt dissolves quickly in water	The quick dissolving of salt in water
Sugar dissolves completely in the solution	The complete dissolving of sugar in the solution
The solute mixes evenly through the solvent	The even mixing of the solute through the solvent
The solution forms gradually	The gradual formation of the solution
Water dissolves the solute effectively	The effective dissolving of the solute by water

---

Concentration and Particle Behaviour

Rewrite each clause as a noun group.

Process to Participant

Everyday (process)	Scientific (participant)
Particles move randomly in all directions
Particles collide frequently in the gas
The solution becomes concentrated gradually
The mixture separates slowly over time
The particles spread evenly through the liquid

Reveal Answer Key

Model Answer

Everyday (process)	Scientific (participant)
Particles move randomly in all directions	The random movement of particles in all directions
Particles collide frequently in the gas	The frequent collision of particles in the gas
The solution becomes concentrated gradually	The gradual concentration of the solution
The mixture separates slowly over time	The slow separation of the mixture over time
The particles spread evenly through the liquid	The even spreading of particles through the liquid

---

Types of Mixtures

Rewrite each clause as a noun group.

Process to Participant

Everyday (process)	Scientific (participant)
The substances combine physically
The substances separate easily
The solution appears uniform throughout
The suspension settles slowly

Reveal Answer Key

Model Answer

Everyday (process)	Scientific (participant)
The substances combine physically	The physical combination of substances
The substances separate easily	The easy separation of substances
The solution appears uniform	The uniform appearance of the solution
The suspension settles slowly	The slow settling of the suspension

---

Separating Mixtures

Rewrite each clause as a noun group.

Process to Participant

Everyday (process)	Scientific (participant)
The lab technician filters the suspension carefully
Liquids distil efficiently at different temperatures
The new machine centrifuges the blood rapidly

Reveal Answer Key

Model Answer

Everyday (process)	Scientific (participant)
The lab technician filters the suspension carefully	The careful filtration of the suspension by the lab technician
Liquids distil efficiently at different temperatures	The efficient distillation of liquids at different temperatures
The new machine centrifuges the blood rapidly	The rapid centrifugation of blood by the new machine