HistoryoftheBunsenBurner

RobertBunsenwasaGermanscientistwhomademanydiscoveries inthefieldoforganicchemistryandspectroscopy.Heisalsogiven creditforconceivingoneofthemostcommonsourcesoflaboratory heatusedtoday,theBunsenBurner.Mostheatsourcesofhistime (mid1800s)weresmokyandinefficient.Bunsenfoundthatby allowingthegasandairtomixpriortoignition,theresultingflame producednosmokeandveryhightemperatures(idealforlaboratory applications.

Structure&OperationoftheBunsenburner
ABunsenBurnerconsistsofahollowmetal barrelthathasoneormoreopeningsatitsbaseto allowtheentryofair.Gasispipedinatthebase, mixeswiththeair,andatthetopofthebarrel createsaflameofvaryingintensity(depending upontheratioofairgas). Gasflowisusuallycontrolledoneoftwoways. Thefirstwayisatthegasjetlocatedonthelab desk.Whenthehandleisperpendiculartothe gasjet,thegasflowisoff.When thehandleis parallel tothegasjet,thegasflowison.Gas flowcanalsobefinetunedusingthegascontrol valve(alsoknownasaneedlevalve). TousetheBunsenBurner,thegastubingshouldbeattachedtoboththegasoutletonthe burnerandalsotothegasjetonthelabtable.Checkthattheneedlevalveisonlyopena turn.Adjustthemetaljacketovertheairventssothattheyareapproximatelyhalfway CLOSED open.Oncetheseadjustmentsaremade,ensurethattheburnerisabletositflatonthe labtabletopandwillnottipover.Youmayneedtotwistthegastubingwhereitattaches totheburnertoremedythisproblem.Whenyouhavefinishedthesepreparations,you maylighttheburner.Besurethatallloosehairandclothingisout oftheway,andhold thestrikerinonehand.Withyourotherhand,turnthegasjethandlesothatitisparallel tothejetnozzle.Whenyouhearthegashissing,holdthestrikerabovethetopofthe barrelandsqueezethestrikerhandleuntilthesparksignitetheburner.Youcancontrol theflameintensitywiththeneedlevalve.Ifyouobtainayellowflame,thenthereistoo muchairinthemixtureclosetheairventstoalittlebittoobtaintheproper,blueflame. Whenyouarefinishedusingtheburner,turnthegasoffatthegasjet.

BunsenBurnerSafety
SomethingstokeepinmindwhenworkingwithaBunsenBurner: Longhairshouldbetiedbackoutoftheway Looseclothing,cuffs,shirttailsshouldbesecuredsothat theydonotaccidentallydangleintheflame. Knowwherethehotpartsoftheburnerarewhenitislitthe needlevalveandairventjacketarecoolenoughtobe touchedandadjustedwhiletheburnerisignited. Knowwherethesafetyequipmentis,includingthefire blanket,thegasmainshutoffbutton,andthefire extinguisher. NEVERleavealitBunsenburnerunattended! AlwaysholdandcarryaBunsenburnerbythebasethe barrelmightstillbehot!

TypesofBurnerFlames
TherearethreemaintypesofBunsenburnerflames: 1. SafetyflameThecoolestofthethreeflames,thisonehasayellow/orangecolor andburnsatapproximately300C. 2. BlueflameAlsoknownasamediumflame,thisoneisdifficulttoseefroma distance.Itburnsatapproximately500C. 3. RoaringBlueflameThisisthehottestflameavailablewithaBunsenburner, reachingtemperaturesashighas800Catitshottestlocation.Thedistinctive coneflameinthecentercanidentifythisflameandaroaringsoundcanbe heard.Notallportionsoftheroaringblueflameburnatthesametemperature,a factthatisimportanttoknowwhentryingtoheatsubstancesinlab.Belowisa diagramthatdescribestheapproximatetemperaturesfordifferentportionsofthe flame.Theimportantfacttorememberthoughisthatthehottestpartoftheflame isjustabovethecone.