Name ___________________________________

Passive Voice
a. Rewrite the following sentences so that they are more appropriate for the Methods section of
a research journal article; use passive voice and past tense.
1. We recrystallized the product from ethanol in a fume hood.
The product was recrystallized from ethanol.
2. We measured the temperature with a K-type thermocouple located just above the catalyst
bed.
The temperature just above the catalyst bed was measured using a K-type thermocouple.
3. Filter the precipitate. Wash three times with 10 mL of ethanol each time.
After filtration of the precipitate it was washed three times with 10 mL ethanol.
4. Add chlorosulfonic acid (0.350 mL) dropwise to a flask containing acetic acid in an ice bath.
In an ice bath, chlorosulfonic acid (0.350 mL) was added to acetic acid.
5. We used a Nicolet model 590 FTIR spectrometer to analyze the water-ice films.
The analysis of water-ice films was preformed using a FTIR spectrometer (Nicolet, 590).
6. We collected all of our samples in amber glass bottles with Teflon-lined caps (EPA level 1, 33
mm, VWR).
Samples were collected in amber glass bottles with Teflon-lined caps (EPA level 1, 33 mm,
VWR).
7. We used the Box-Hunter program run under MAPLE computer algebra software (v. 5,
Waterloo Maple, Inc.).
The Box-Hunter program was run under the MAPLE computer algebra software (v. 5, Waterloo
Maple, Inc.).
b. Rewrite these sentences so that they correctly use passive voice to describe experimental
procedures.
1. We heated the mixture to 65 C for 15 min.
The mixture was heated to 65 C for 15 min.

2. We added 0.31 mmol of Me4ZnLi2 to a solution of 1a (30 mg, 0.21 mmol) in THF (4 mL).
0.31 mmol of Me4ZnLi2 is added to a solution of la (30 mg, 0.21 mmol) in THF (4 mL).
3. We attached the in situ NIR probe to a steel holder on the fermentation tank, and we
immersed the probe into milk broth.
The probe was immersed in the milk broth after the attachment of the in situ NIR probe on the
fermentation tank.
4. We added several drops of water to quench the reaction, and we stirred the mixture
vigorously for 10 min to allow the precipitation of zinc salts.
After the addition of several drops of water the mixture was stirred vigorously for ten minutes to
allow the precipitation of zinc salts.

c. The Experimental section below contains several errors in the use of passive voice. Identify
and correct the errors.
Experimental Section
Materials. Boron trichloride (Aldrich), sodium tetraphenylborate (Aldrich), and cobaltocene
(Sterm) was used as received. 9-Hydroxy-1-oxophenalene synthesized according to literature
procedures.31 Toluene was distilled from sodium benzophenone ketyl immediately before use.
Acetonitrile was distilled from P2O5 and redistilled from CaH2 immediately before use.
9-N-Benzyl-1-oxophenalene. A mixture of 9-hydroxy-1-oxophenalene (0.98 g, 0.005 mol) and
benzylamine (10 mL) was refluxed for 10 h in argon. After cooling, yellow crystals were formed
and were separated by filtration. The crude product was purified by column chromatography on
Al2O3 with CHCl3 to give a yellow solid (1.3 g, 92%) and further purification was done by
crystallization from hexane.