study of bunsen burner experiment

Sciencing_Icons_Science SCIENCE

Sciencing_icons_biology biology, sciencing_icons_cells cells, sciencing_icons_molecular molecular, sciencing_icons_microorganisms microorganisms, sciencing_icons_genetics genetics, sciencing_icons_human body human body, sciencing_icons_ecology ecology, sciencing_icons_chemistry chemistry, sciencing_icons_atomic & molecular structure atomic & molecular structure, sciencing_icons_bonds bonds, sciencing_icons_reactions reactions, sciencing_icons_stoichiometry stoichiometry, sciencing_icons_solutions solutions, sciencing_icons_acids & bases acids & bases, sciencing_icons_thermodynamics thermodynamics, sciencing_icons_organic chemistry organic chemistry, sciencing_icons_physics physics, sciencing_icons_fundamentals-physics fundamentals, sciencing_icons_electronics electronics, sciencing_icons_waves waves, sciencing_icons_energy energy, sciencing_icons_fluid fluid, sciencing_icons_astronomy astronomy, sciencing_icons_geology geology, sciencing_icons_fundamentals-geology fundamentals, sciencing_icons_minerals & rocks minerals & rocks, sciencing_icons_earth scructure earth structure, sciencing_icons_fossils fossils, sciencing_icons_natural disasters natural disasters, sciencing_icons_nature nature, sciencing_icons_ecosystems ecosystems, sciencing_icons_environment environment, sciencing_icons_insects insects, sciencing_icons_plants & mushrooms plants & mushrooms, sciencing_icons_animals animals, sciencing_icons_math math, sciencing_icons_arithmetic arithmetic, sciencing_icons_addition & subtraction addition & subtraction, sciencing_icons_multiplication & division multiplication & division, sciencing_icons_decimals decimals, sciencing_icons_fractions fractions, sciencing_icons_conversions conversions, sciencing_icons_algebra algebra, sciencing_icons_working with units working with units, sciencing_icons_equations & expressions equations & expressions, sciencing_icons_ratios & proportions ratios & proportions, sciencing_icons_inequalities inequalities, sciencing_icons_exponents & logarithms exponents & logarithms, sciencing_icons_factorization factorization, sciencing_icons_functions functions, sciencing_icons_linear equations linear equations, sciencing_icons_graphs graphs, sciencing_icons_quadratics quadratics, sciencing_icons_polynomials polynomials, sciencing_icons_geometry geometry, sciencing_icons_fundamentals-geometry fundamentals, sciencing_icons_cartesian cartesian, sciencing_icons_circles circles, sciencing_icons_solids solids, sciencing_icons_trigonometry trigonometry, sciencing_icons_probability-statistics probability & statistics, sciencing_icons_mean-median-mode mean/median/mode, sciencing_icons_independent-dependent variables independent/dependent variables, sciencing_icons_deviation deviation, sciencing_icons_correlation correlation, sciencing_icons_sampling sampling, sciencing_icons_distributions distributions, sciencing_icons_probability probability, sciencing_icons_calculus calculus, sciencing_icons_differentiation-integration differentiation/integration, sciencing_icons_application application, sciencing_icons_projects projects, sciencing_icons_news news.

• Share Tweet Email Print
• Home ⋅
• Science Fair Project Ideas for Kids, Middle & High School Students ⋅

Bunsen Burner Experiments

How to Make a Copper Sulfate Solution

The Bunsen burner helped to develop the use of natural gas into a popular energy source. In 1885, Robert Bunsen invented the device, which mixes air and gas in the proper proportions to create a flame at very high temperatures. Bunsen burner experiments help to illustrate a variety of scientific principles, including changes in mass and flammability.

Using a Bunsen Burner on Flame-resistant Paper

Fill one beaker with water, the second with half water and half ethanol, and a third beaker with ethanol. Soak one piece of paper the size of a $1 bill in the beaker filled with water. Use tongs and hold it over the Bunsen burner. It will not ignite. Soak a second piece of paper in ethanol. The alcohol will set fire to the paper and it will burn away. Soak the third piece of paper in the ethanol-water mixture. Hold it over the flame long enough to ignite. The flame will burn away the ethanol, but the paper will not burn.

Creating Magnesium Oxide

Weigh a crucible containing a piece of magnesium. Place the crucible with magnesium over the Bunsen burner in the pipe clay triangle and put the lid on. Once the crucible is hot, lift the lid with tongs. The magnesium may flare. Continue to heat and lift the lid until you see no more reaction. Remove the crucible from the flame and allow to cool. Re-weigh the crucible with lid and the burned magnesium. The formula is magnesium + oxygen = magnesium oxide.

Creating Iron Oxide

Cover one end of the meter ruler with foil to protect it from the Bunsen burner. Attach a few strands of steel wool to the end of the ruler. Balance the ruler on a knife edge or triangular block at the 50 cm mark. Weight the empty end with plasticine until this end is just down. Heat the wool over the flame for about a minute. The wool will glow. When placed on the triangular block, the ruler will tip in the wool until the wool side of the ruler is down. The formula is iron + oxygen = iron oxide.

Reconstituting Stearic Acid

Place stearic acid in a boiling test tube. Fill a beaker three quarters of the way with water. Hold the tube inside the beaker with a clamp stand. Heat the beaker with the Bunsen burner flame on a tripod. Place a thermometer in the test tube. Record the temperature of the stearic acid every minute until it reaches 70 degrees Celsius. Use the clamp stand to lift the tube from the hot water. Record the temperature of the stearic acid every minute until it reaches 50 degrees Celsius.

Related Articles

How to calculate the amount of heat released, how to mix calcium chloride and water, what is the function of a clay triangle, how to calculate the molar heat of neutralization, how to do titration calculations, how to calculate the heat of combustion of paraffin..., baking powder science projects, how to dissolve steel, potassium nitrate reaction experiments, how to use vinegar & salt to make a penny disappear, how to make a homemade hygrometer, how to dissolve edta in water, how to make oxalic acid, how to heat treat steel, how to calculate titratable acidity, the properties of nitrocellulose, how to make silicon crystals from sand, school projects with magnesium, how to clean a teflon iron.

• Practical Chemistry: Money to Burn
• Practical Chemistry: The Change in Mass When Magnesium Burns
• Practical Chemistry: The Combustion of Iron Wool
• Practical Chemistry: Melting and freezing stearic acid

About the Author

Aminah Paden began writing professionally in 1992. She has been published in "Mahogany" magazine and "Outreach," a youth newsletter. Paden also blogs for Gold Rush Illinois and Remembering Your Spirit. She has a Master of Science in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.

Photo Credits

John Foxx/Stockbyte/Getty Images

Find Your Next Great Science Fair Project! GO

• No category

Bunsen Burner Experiment

Related documents.

Add this document to collection(s)

You can add this document to your study collection(s)

Add this document to saved

You can add this document to your saved list

Suggest us how to improve StudyLib

(For complaints, use another form )

Input it if you want to receive answer

PRODUCT CATEGORIES

Same Day Dispatch

All in stock items will be dispatched same day from our fully stocked warehouse

Worldwide shipping Available

We ship worldwide! Online orders ship all over the globe. Wherever you need science equipment we can ship it*.

FREE Delivery on ALL orders for UK

All online orders in the UK are Free delivery no matter the size. No minimum free shipping requirement and no delivery charge.....Ever

4 Experiments You Can Do Using a Bunsen Burner

Nov 30,2021 by Edulab

The humble Bunsen burner is one of the most used pieces of kit in any laboratory. In previous articles we have touched on what a Bunsen burner is and how to use it safely , and today we are diving into some of the best experiments that can be completed with this equipment.

Bunsen burners have been around since 1885 and are found in everything from science classrooms to large, commercial labs. They work by mixing air and gas to create extremely high temperatures in a controlled manner, making them suitable for loads of different applications. Here are 4 experiments you can complete using a Bunsen burner:

#1 Flame Resistant Paper

This experiment is great for demonstrating how different liquids can affect the way paper burns. You will need three clean glass beakers . Fill one with water, one with ethanol, and one with a 50/50 mix of ethanol and water. Cut three small pieces of paper (about the size of a 50 pence piece).

Using a pair of tongs, dip one piece of paper into the beaker of water, and then hold it over the Bunsen burner flame, and notice how it will not ignite. Next, do the same by dipping a bit of paper in the ethanol. This time the paper and the ethanol will burn immediately. Finally, dip the third piece of paper in the water and ethanol mix and hold over the flame. You will see that the flame will burn away the ethanol on the paper, but the paper itself will not ignite.

#2 The Levitating Flame

The levitating flame Bunsen burner experiment has been used in laboratories and lessons for decades. It is a fantastic way of demonstrating convection and conduction to students of all ages. This experiment uses the basic principles of a miner’s safety lamp, also known as a Davy lamp.

Start with a Bunsen burner on a blue flame and pick up a copper gauze using some metal tongs. Slowly lower the gauze into the flame, holding it in one corner and lowering the opposite corner. You will see how the flame turns from roaring blue to orange, which indicates a fast drop in temperature.

Continue lowering the gauze slowly until it is eventually touching the top of the burner. At this stage, it will turn blue again, but the flame will not go out. Hold it here for 30 seconds to one minute and then slowly lift the gauze to about 3-4cm above the burner. You will notice that the flame stays above the gauze, and there is no flame coming directly from the Bunsen burner. It is possible to pass your finger through the gap between the Bunsen and the gauze without burning yourself as this area is not ignited.

#3 Ion Flame Tests

An extremely common Bunsen burner experiment which is used in schools is the flame test. It is used to identify ions in various compounds. Each metal ion produces a different colour flame when subjected to a high heat. This is the basis behind a Bunsen burner flame test.

Start by dipping a clean wire loop into the solid compound you want to test. Carefully hold the wire loop at the edge of the Bunsen on a blue flame and observe which colour it turns. Some of the most common metal ions and their respective flame test colour are:

• Lithium: Red
• Sodium: Yellow
• Potassium: Lilac
• Calcium: Orange-Red
• Barium: Green
• Copper: Blue-green

#4 The Screaming Jelly Baby

This unique Bunsen burner experiment is perfect for demonstrating the energy content in a favourite childhood sweet. Make sure you only conduct this exercise in a well-ventilated room with plenty of space and no smoke detectors nearby. You will need to set up a clean boiling tube at a 45 degree angle over a Bunsen burner.

Begin by measuring out 7g of Potassium Chlorate into the boiling tube. Turn on the Bunsen burner and heat the tube until all of the Potassium Chloride as melted. Be careful not to continue heating it after it has melted, the trick is to turn off the heat as soon as this is done. When the Bunsen burner is off, drop one jelly baby sweet into the tube using a pair of tongs.

At this point, the sugar in the jelly baby is oxidised, creating coloured flames, a lot of smoke and a screaming noise. This demonstrates just how much energy is in a single sweet through visual and audio representation. The average jelly baby delivers roughly 100 kilojoules of energy.

RELATED POSTS

Nov, 2021 by Edulab

The humble Bunsen burner is one of the most used pieces of kit in any laboratory. In previous articles we … Continue reading "4 Experiments You...

Oct, 2021 by Edulab

The Bunsen Burner – What is it and how to

One of the most common pieces of laboratory equipment is the Bunsen burner. Bunsen burners have been used in science … Continue reading "The Bunsen Burner...

Edulab has a new home!

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Contact us:

Microbe Notes

Bunsen Burner- Principle, Parts, Types, Procedure, Uses

Bunsen Burner is a kind of gas burner that creates a safe, smokeless, hot, and non-luminous flame which can be used for various scientific experiments and research.

In 1857, German scientist Robert Bunsen and his lab assistant Peter Desaga invented the Bunsen burner and named it after his surname. It generates a single open gas flame that functions in combustion, sterilization , or heating.

Luminous and non-luminous flame are the two types of flame. When the air-hole is opened, the bright flame will change into a non-luminous flame which can be seen with an orange brilliant flame. The temperature is very moderate.

Additionally, the flame seems unstable and flickering. The non-luminous flame, in contrast, is blue in hue. But one cannot see this flame properly. It is hotter and more stable than the bright flame.

Table of Contents

Interesting Science Videos

Bunsen Burner Principle

The burner normally has a metal body and a solid base on the bench. Rubber tubing connects a lab bench’s gas nozzle to the burner’s primary gas inlet at the burner’s base. The ability of the gas (or other fuel) to combine with oxygen before the combination is ignited is crucial to the operation of the burner, i.e., producing an air-gas premix before combustion. This is accomplished by using an air-sucking Venturi-effect inlet valve at the bottom of the burner column when the lab gas nozzle is activated. The diameter of the nozzle is tailored to the type of gas being employed. The vertical tube above the gas entrance has a few tiny holes that allow air to enter the gas mixture from the sides. The gas burns at the top of the burner after being lit with a lighter or match at the top. The bottom-mounted adjustable valve (collar) controls how much oxygen is added to the mixture. Less air supply results in a weaker flame, while more air supply makes the flame stronger. The color of the flame can be used to determine its level of combustion. The air hole or collar can be adjusted to produce flames of various hues.

For instance,

• It emits a yellow flame when the air hole is closed completely (safety fire).
• Upon the air hole being slightly opened, a reddish flame appears (slightly combustion power).
• A purple flame is produced when the air hole is just partially opened (half combustion power).
• A blue flame appears when the air hole is fully opened (strong combustion, hazardous).

Bunsen Burner Parts with their functions

A Bunsen burner is made up of various parts, including:

• Stand or base: The Bunsen burner is supported by the base, a broad and hefty component that comes in various shapes. It’s attached to a side tube known as a gas tube. It helps to place the burner on the bench.
• Barrel or chimney: It is a base-attached vertical metal tube about 5 inches long. It has an air vent near the bottom formed by oppositely positioned holes. The barrel can be fastened to the base with screws. At the nozzle’s higher end, the gas burns after combining with the air from the vent.
• Collar: It joins the base and the barrel. It is a small, cylindrical piece of metal with two holes that are opposite of one another. It regulates how much air enters the barrel.
• Air holes: Air holes in the collar allow air to enter the burner to form a mixture of air and gas or any liquid fuel with air.
• Gas valve: It controls the gas flow.
• Gas intake: It uses a rubber tube to connect to the gas source at the lab bench.

Fuel sources of a Bunsen Burner

The two primary fuel sources for a Bunsen burner are natural gas (mostly methane) and liquefied petroleum gas (propane, butane, or a mixture of the two). A burner for one fuel type should never be used with another type of fuel. So, it’s necessary to make the right choice of the burner depending upon the fuel source.

Types of Bunsen Burner

The three types of Bunsen burner are:

Meker Fisher burner:

The barrel has a wider diameter. Due to the bigger size, there is greater mixing of air and gas. A grid that divides the flame into smaller flames is placed across the top of the barrel. A gas valve situated below the chimney or barrel can be used to regulate the flow of the gas.

Teclu burner

This burner produces more heat effectively. It has a longer barrel tube compared to other burners. Air and gas are thoroughly mixed. As a result, the flame’s combustion power increases. Additionally, the barrel tube has a screw nut for adjusting the gas source. 

Tirril burner

At the base of the barrel, it contains a disc valve that can regulate gas flow into the burner.

Types of Bunsen burner flames

Yellow flame.

It is referred to as a safety flame since it’s easy to notice in a well-lit space. It can be produced when the air hole is completely closed, and it reaches temperatures of about 300 degrees.

When the air hole is just half opened, it becomes challenging to see in a bright environment. Such flame is known as blue flame, reaching temperatures of 500 degrees.

Roaring blue flame

It is the hottest flame produced when the air hole is completely open, and it can attain temperatures of 700 degrees.

Operating Procedure of Bunsen Burner

• Wear a lab apron and safety glasses. Long hair should be tied back if one has it.
• The rubber tube should be connected to a gas tap.
• When using a Bunsen burner on a surface that is not heat resistant, place a heating pad underneath it.
• A cover for the air hole should be placed on the collar.
• 3 cm above the top of the barrel, light a match and hold it there.
• In the “on” position, turn the gas faucet.
• Extinguish the match when it is lighter.
• Until you need to heat something, leave the flame in “safety mode”.

Applications of Bunsen Burner

• It is used to sterilize loops, needles, and flaming the mouth of test tubes during inoculations, mostly in microbiology laboratories.
• They are used for heat purposes, mostly in chemical laboratories.
• It is used in the dehydration of complexes, drying of salts, moisture analysis, and identification of water of crystallization.
• It helps to determine melting point using classical calorimetry and boiling point using thiele tube method.
• It is used for the flammability of compounds and the flash point of solvents.

Advantages of Bunsen Burner

• It is quite easy to handle.
• It can be utilized anywhere there is access to gas (coal gas, natural gas, etc.).
• The burner is available in various sizes, so we may pick one that works best for us.
•  In addition to heating, we can utilize it for basic glass-blowing tasks and air drying.
• The burner may run on low-cost fuels like coal gas and natural gas. It doesn’t require a lot of complicated tools.
• We can obtain flames with a range of temperatures due to the adjustable air inlet.
• A convection current can be produced by the heat of a Bunsen burner flame, which heats the area above the flame and removes any airborne particles from the colder air beneath it, keeping this work area sterile.

Limitations of Bunsen Burner

• Fire risk exists constantly.
• It’s difficult to keep the temperature where you want it to be.

Precautions

This type of equipment is flammable and burns at a very high temperature, potentially resulting in an accident if not handled mindfully. Following are the points to be considered while operating the Bunsen burner are:

• We must work in a space free of extraneous objects such as notebooks, paper, etc.
• Long hair must be tied back, and loose clothing or jewelry should be avoided.
• Always look for cracks, holes, or other flaws in the rubber tubing that could lead to a leak. Any hoses or tubes that are broken should be replaced.
• Use a lighter with an expanded nozzle rather than a match to light a Bunsen burner.
• Before opening the gas faucet, get your lighter ready. If a flame is not in use, it should always remain safe.
• Even with the safety flame on, a Bunsen burner should never be left alone.
• After the experiment is complete, immediately turn off the gas.
• Avoid handling the equipment while it’s still hot, and let it cool down fully after usage.

Examples of Bunsen Burner

A. fireboy safety bunsen burner (manufacturer: integra biosciences).

• Monitoring the flame stops gas leaks
• Automatic ignition , requiring neither a lighter nor matches
• Gas cartridge adapters: Independent of any gas delivery system
• Optional battery : no external power source is required.

B. Bunsen acc. to Bunsen (Manufacturer: Marienfeld Superior)

• composed of non-corrosive materials
• nickel-plated air regulation,
• needle valve for gas type selection
• both natural gas and propane can be suitable as a fuel source

C. Laboratory Bunsen burner 4056/B ( Manufacturer: Techno Gaz)

• A new universal nozzle makes it possible to use it with any type of gas GPL and at any pressure.
•  A valve block and a sensor unit make up the thermocouple. This thermocouple is a safety mechanism that shuts off the gas flow if the flame goes out, preventing potential environmental gas saturation.

D. Bunsen Burner BEC2 series (Manufacturer: Medline Scientific Ltd.)

• An alternative to traditional gas Bunsen burners that is special and safe
• A focused stream of heat equal to that of current gas-powered Bunsen burners is produced by the high-power heater in conjunction with an internally reflective stainless-steel bowl. 
• Comes with a wire safety guard, retort stand, and clamps.
• The internal stainless steel bowl is reflective.
• https://www.hbarsci.com/blogs/articles/10099273-understanding-products-bunsen-burners
• https://sites.google.com/site/glenscienceeportfolio/reflections/bunsen-burner-and-types-of-flames
• https://edulab.com/the-bunsen-burner-what-is-it-and-how-to-use-it-safely/
• https://www.google.com/amp/s/universe84a.com/bunsen-burner-introduction/%3famp=1
• https://psiberg.com/bunsen-burner/
• https://www.jove.com/v/5035/introduction-to-the-bunsen-burner
• https://dlu.com.ua/FIREBOY-Safety-Bunsen-Burner
• https://www.directindustry.com/prod/medline-scientific-ltd/product-107585-2357621.html
• https://www.marienfeld-superior.com/burners-acc-to-bunsen.html
• https://www.medicalexpo.com/prod/tecno-gaz/product-70281-633645.html

About Author

Prakriti Karki

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Quick Order
• 0333 996 1611
• [email protected]
• Need Help? Contact our team

SERVING SCIENCE SUCCESSFULLY SINCE 1957

Login or Register

• £ 0.00 0 items 0
• Biology Studies & Kits
• Earth & Field Studies
• Microbiology & Cultures
• Zoology & Botany
• Chemical Analysis & Reactions
• Chemistry Studies & Kits
• Fundamental Concepts
• Gas & Materials
• Services & Non Stock

EduLab Kits

• Macro Science Kits
• Mini Science Kits

Home Economics

Lab equipment.

• Benchtop Appliances
• Heating & Cooling
• Specialist & Analysis
• Tools & Timers
• Filter & Process
• General Labware
• Measure & Pour
• Testing & Diagnosis
• British Science Week - Time Inspired Picks
• Atomic & Nuclear
• Electricity & Magnetism
• Forces & Motion
• Optics & Waves
• Physics Studies & Kits

STEM & Sensors

• Interfaces & Parts
• STEM Kits & Setups

Storage & Safety

• Emergency & Incident
• Signage & Labels
• Storage & Handling

A Quick Guide to Bunsen Burners – Everything You Need To Know

The Bunsen burner, invented by German chemist Robert Bunsen in 1855, is a commonly used laboratory equipment that has stood the test of time. It was developed by Bunsen and Peter Desaga, a mechanic at the University of Heidelberg, to utilise the newly fitted coal-gas lines in their lab.

Today, the Bunsen burner remains a crucial tool in various laboratory experiments such as chemical reactions, distillation, and evaporation. Additionally, its high temperature can be used to sterilise equipment such as forceps, scalpels, and other tools, making it a versatile and useful tool for a range of laboratory applications.

More laboratory common uses for this lab essential include:

• Heating substances: Bunsen burners can provide a consistent, adjustable flame that can be used to heat substances in beakers, test tubes, and other containers.
• Flame tests: Bunsen burners can be used to conduct flame tests to identify the presence of certain elements in a sample. When a substance is heated in a flame, it emits a characteristic colour that can be used to identify it.
• Glass blowing: Bunsen burners are often used in glass blowing to soften the glass and shape it into various forms.
• Drying samples: Bunsen burners can be used to dry samples by heating them to a temperature that causes the moisture to evaporate.

In this quick guide, we look at:

• What Is a Bunsen Burner
• What Are the Three Types of Flame on A Bunsen Burner

How To Safely Use a Bunsen Burner

Required practicals that use a bunsen burner, what is a bunsen burner.

Bunsen burners are commonly found on laboratory benches and are used in various science experiments due to their ability to produce a hot, non-luminous flame that is free of soot. This is achieved by mixing gas and oxygen in a controlled environment, which allows for precise regulation of the burner’s size and heat.

Rubber tubing is used to connect the Bunsen burner to a gas valve, making it suitable for use in any laboratory with gas lines. The flame is situated at the mouth of the tube at the top of the equipment and can be utilized to create a convection current.

The standard natural rubber tubing has been used for many years, but longer lasting and more resilient tubes made from neoprene or a polymer blend like Enduraflex are also available. Other essential components of the Bunsen burner include the gas inlet, air control vent, barrel, and base. The air hole and control vent are critical in regulating the amount of air in the instrument and controlling the size and type of the flame.

What Are the Three Types of Flame On A Bunsen Burner?

Bunsen burners are versatile tools that can generate different types of flames, each suitable for specific scenarios. The three main types of flames produced by Bunsen burners are:

Yellow Flame: Known as the safety flame due to its high visibility and low temperature of approximately 300°C.

Blue flame: This flame can reach temperatures of up to 500 degrees and is produced when the air hole is partially open, although it may be difficult to see in a bright room.

Roaring Blue Flame: This is the hottest Bunsen burner flame and can reach temperatures of up to 700°C, but requires the air hole to be fully open.

Using a Bunsen burner in a lab requires careful attention and precautions due to the open flame and high temperature, which can pose a fire hazard and risk of accidents if not handled properly. It is crucial to keep the following safety tips in mind when working with a Bunsen burner:

• Check the equipment:  Before you start using a Bunsen burner, make sure it is in good working condition. Always inspect the rubber tubing for holes, cracks, or any defect which could cause a leak. Replace any hoses or tubes which are damaged. Check the gas supply and make sure the tubing is securely connected.
• Clear the area:  Ensure the area around the Bunsen burner and the area you are working in is clear of any flammable materials, including notebooks, paper, or chemicals. They should never be placed underneath shelves, light fixtures, or other equipment. Keep at least 12 inches of space clear above a Bunsen burner.
• Set up the burner:  Place the Bunsen burner on a heat-resistant surface and connect it to the gas supply. Adjust the air intake until the flame is blue and stable.
• Light the burner:  Never light a Bunsen burner flame with a match, instead use a lighter with an extended nozzle. Hold it close to the top of the burner, just above the air intake. Have your lighter ready to go before turning on the gas tap. Turn on the gas supply and the flame should ignite. If it doesn’t, turn off the gas supply and wait a few seconds before trying again.
• Adjust the flame:  Adjust the air intake to control the size and temperature of the flame.
• Self-check:  Long hair must be tied back, and jewellery or loose clothing should be avoided. Wear protective gear such as safety goggles / spectacles and a lab coat.
• Use a safety flame:  When you are not using the Bunsen burner, use a safety flame. This is a small, low flame that will prevent gas from leaking out and causing a fire.
• Never leave unattended:  Do not leave a Bunsen burner unattended, even on the safety flame.
• Handle the burner with care:  Remember the Bunsen burner is metal and can get hot. Do not handle it until it cools.
• Turn off the burner:  When you are finished using the Bunsen burner, turn off the gas supply and let it cool down completely before storing it away. Do not handle it while it is still hot.

Some of the most common experiments that use a Bunsen burner:

• Heating substances: Bunsen burners are used to heat substances in beakers, test tubes, and other containers. This is a fundamental experiment that students often conduct to learn about the effects of heat on substances.
• Flame tests: In this experiment, students use a Bunsen burner to heat different metal salts and observe the characteristic colors that are emitted by the flames. This experiment helps students learn about atomic structure and the properties of elements.
• Investigating combustion: Students can use a Bunsen burner to investigate the conditions required for combustion. They can experiment with different types of fuels, oxygen levels, and temperature to observe the effects on combustion.
• Identifying gases: In this experiment, students use a Bunsen burner to burn different gases and observe the characteristics of the flames. This can help students identify the different gases by their flame color and other properties.
• Investigating thermal decomposition: Students can use a Bunsen burner to heat different compounds and observe their decomposition products. This experiment helps students learn about chemical reactions and the effect of heat on compounds.

Overall, Bunsen burners are a fundamental tool in many required practicals in science classes. They help students learn about the properties of substances, chemical reactions, and the effects of heat on different materials.

For more information, feel free to  get in touch with our helpful and friendly team today. You can also find the perfect water bath for you by exploring our extensive range of bunsen burners, ideal for schools, colleges and universities here .

Need help? Contact us at 0333 996 1611 or email [email protected] .

Privacy Overview

Your browser is not supported

Sorry but it looks as if your browser is out of date. To get the best experience using our site we recommend that you upgrade or switch browsers.

Find a solution

• Skip to main content
• Skip to navigation

• Back to parent navigation item
• Primary teacher
• Secondary/FE teacher
• Early career or student teacher
• Higher education
• Curriculum support
• Literacy in science teaching
• Periodic table
• Interactive periodic table
• Climate change and sustainability
• Resources shop
• Collections
• Remote teaching support
• Starters for ten
• Screen experiments
• Assessment for learning
• Microscale chemistry
• Faces of chemistry
• Classic chemistry experiments
• Nuffield practical collection
• Anecdotes for chemistry teachers
• On this day in chemistry
• Global experiments
• PhET interactive simulations
• Chemistry vignettes
• Context and problem based learning
• Journal of the month
• Chemistry and art
• Art analysis
• Pigments and colours
• Ancient art: today's technology
• Psychology and art theory
• Art and archaeology
• Artists as chemists
• The physics of restoration and conservation
• Ancient Egyptian art
• Ancient Greek art
• Ancient Roman art
• Classic chemistry demonstrations
• In search of solutions
• In search of more solutions
• Creative problem-solving in chemistry
• Solar spark
• Chemistry for non-specialists
• Health and safety in higher education
• Analytical chemistry introductions
• Exhibition chemistry
• Introductory maths for higher education
• Commercial skills for chemists
• Kitchen chemistry
• Journals how to guides
• Chemistry in health
• Chemistry in sport
• Chemistry in your cupboard
• Chocolate chemistry
• Adnoddau addysgu cemeg Cymraeg
• The chemistry of fireworks
• Festive chemistry
• Education in Chemistry
• Teach Chemistry
• On-demand online
• Live online
• Selected PD articles
• PD for primary teachers
• PD for secondary teachers
• What we offer
• Chartered Science Teacher (CSciTeach)
• Teacher mentoring
• UK Chemistry Olympiad
• Who can enter?
• How does it work?
• Resources and past papers
• Top of the Bench
• Schools' Analyst
• Regional support
• Education coordinators
• RSC Yusuf Hamied Inspirational Science Programme
• RSC Education News
• Supporting teacher training
• Interest groups

• More navigation items

Heating chocolate and egg

In association with Nuffield Foundation

• No comments

Use this practical to introduce students to physical and chemical changes and the safe use of Bunsen burners

In this simple experiment, students use a Bunsen burner and water bath to investigate the different effects of heat on chocolate and egg white. The practical provides a clear introduction to physical and chemical changes, and can be used to ensure students learn how to use Bunsen burners safely.

This straightforward, if somewhat messy, experiment should take no more than 30 minutes.

• Eye protection
• Test tubes, x2 (see note 6 below)
• Beaker, 250 cm 3
• Bunsen burner
• Heat resistant mat
• Test tube rack
• Test tube holder
• Chocolate, a few grams
• Egg albumen (egg white), about 4 cm 3

Health, safety and technical notes

• Read our standard health and safety guidance.
• Wear eye protection throughout. Do not sit down while heating the beaker or handling the hot test tubes.
• Do not taste foods in a laboratory. The food or the apparatus may be contaminated. This ‘no tasting’ rule should be strictly enforced.
• Chocolate – cooking chocolate is the best type of chocolate for this experiment (other types melt too slowly). The chocolate should be grated and pre-loaded into a test tube for each working group, sufficient to give about a 2 cm depth of molten chocolate when heated – this may require trials to establish the correct amount of grated chocolate.
• Egg albumen – use eggs with the ‘lion brand’ stamp’ as these should be salmonella free. The egg white needs to be separated from the yolks of sufficient eggs to provide enough for about 4 cm 3  of egg white for each working group. The egg white should then be pre-loaded into a test tube for each working group.
• At the end of the lesson, the students can be asked to hand back their test tubes with the contents still inside, as recovery and cleaning may cause less mess than leaving it to the students. The chocolate is best removed by re-melting and pouring out of the tubes.

Source: Royal Society of Chemistry

How to set up the water bath for heating chocolate and egg white over a Bunsen burner

• Add cold water to the beaker until it is about one-third full, and place it on the tripod and gauze.
• Place a test tube with egg white and a test tube with chocolate in the beaker.
• Heat the beaker of water with the test tubes carefully until the water in the beaker boils. Allow the water to boil gently for about 5 minutes.
• Watch what happens to the egg white and the chocolate in the tubes while they are being heated.
• Turn off the Bunsen burner and use the test tube holder to transfer the tubes to the rack to cool.
• Watch what happens to the egg white and the chocolate in the tubes as they cool.

Teaching notes

This experiment is appropriate for classes at an early stage in their science education, so students are likely to be fairly inexperienced in the safe and skillful use of the Bunsen burner. This is therefore a good opportunity to develop their ability to use the Bunsen burner and emphasis safety points, such as standing up when doing experiments that involve heating.

The main purpose of the experiment is of course to introduce physical and chemical change, and the associated ideas of reversible and non-reversible changes. The chemical change in the egg white should take no more than 5 minutes once the water is boiling, and grated cooking chocolate should melt in about the same time. Many children will have met this in primary school.

On cooling, the chocolate will of course solidify to a solid mass, and students may be distracted by the change of form from the grated material at the start. If so, the technician could be asked to pre-melt the chocolate in the tubes and allow it to solidify again before the lesson, but note that it will then take longer for the chocolate to melt in the experiment.

Further information

The Exploratorium provides a discussion of the nature of the chemical changes involved in cooking eggs , suitable for teacher background information.

Additional information

This is a resource from the  Practical Chemistry project , developed by the Nuffield Foundation and the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Practical Chemistry activities accompany  Practical Physics  and  Practical Biology .

© Nuffield Foundation and the Royal Society of Chemistry

• 11-14 years
• 14-16 years
• Practical experiments
• Practical skills and safety
• Reactions and synthesis

Specification

• 1. Investigate whether mass is unchanged when chemical and physical changes take place.
• 2. Develop and use models to describe the nature of matter; demonstrate how they provide a simple way to to account for the conservation of mass, changes of state, physical change, chemical change, mixtures, and their separation.
• 5. Review and reflect on the skills and thinking used in carrying out investigations, and apply their learning and skills to solving problems in unfamiliar contexts.

Related articles

The science of melting chocolate

2021-03-01T13:07:00Z By Ian Farrell

Use this infographic with your 11–14 students to develop their knowledge of changes of state and their graphing skills

Help learners master equilibrium and reversible reactions

2024-06-24T06:59:00Z By Emma Owens

Use this poster, fact sheet and storyboard activity to ensure your 14–16 students understand dynamic equilibrium

Non-burning paper: investigate the fire triangle and conditions for combustion

2024-06-10T05:00:00Z By Declan Fleming

Use this reworking of the classic non-burning £5 note demonstration to explore combustion with learners aged 11–16 years

No comments yet

Only registered users can comment on this article., more experiments.

‘Gold’ coins on a microscale | 14–16 years

By Dorothy Warren and Sandrine Bouchelkia

Practical experiment where learners produce ‘gold’ coins by electroplating a copper coin with zinc, includes follow-up worksheet

Practical potions microscale | 11–14 years

By Kirsty Patterson

Observe chemical changes in this microscale experiment with a spooky twist.

Antibacterial properties of the halogens | 14–18 years

By Kristy Turner

Use this practical to investigate how solutions of the halogens inhibit the growth of bacteria and which is most effective

• Contributors
• Email alerts

Site powered by Webvision Cloud

Bunsen Burner: Parts, Principle, and Application

Bunsen burner is a gas burner that produces smokeless, nonluminous flame used for heating, sterilizing, and combustion purposes in laboratory experiments. It was named after Robert Bunsen, a German scientist who designed it in 1857. A.D.

Table of Contents

Parts of a Bunsen Burner

The Bunsen burner is an essential part of laboratory equipment used for heating materials in the laboratory. It consists of seven major components: the base , barrel (chimney) , air regulator (collar) , air holes , gas valve , gas nozzle , and gas intake tube .

Barrel: It is also known as a chimney. It is a 5 inches long metal tube that rests on the base of the burner. It consists of two holes near the bottom end, known as an air intake opening that allows passage of air into the barrel. When natural gas passes through the air intake opening, the gas and air mixture ignites at its upper end.

Gas nozzle: A plastic or rubber pipe is connected to the gas source. It helps to allow natural gas to enter the burner.

Thus, the amount of air supplied, which can be regulated by the collar (adjustable valve), is directly proportional to the strength and color of the flame. With a closed valve, a minimal amount of air (oxygen) passes, and a smoky yellow (low temperature) flame is produced. Whereas, with opened valve, a sufficient amount of air enters, and the roaring flame is produced hot, nearly colorless.

Types of Flame on a Bunsen Burner

Amount of fuel: The amount of fuel is controlled by a gas valve.

Safety flame

Medium blue flame, roaring flame.

In summary,

Types of Bunsen Burner

Tirrill burner, teclu burner, maker burner, application/uses of bunsen burner, in the chemical laboratories, within microbiology laboratories, in zoology and botany laboratories, advantages of bunsen burner, limitations of bunsen burner, bunsen burner.

• History & Society
• Science & Tech
• Biographies
• Animals & Nature
• Geography & Travel
• Arts & Culture
• Games & Quizzes
• On This Day
• One Good Fact
• New Articles
• Lifestyles & Social Issues
• Philosophy & Religion
• Politics, Law & Government
• World History
• Health & Medicine
• Browse Biographies
• Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates
• Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates
• Environment
• Fossils & Geologic Time
• Entertainment & Pop Culture
• Sports & Recreation
• Visual Arts
• Demystified
• Image Galleries
• Infographics
• Top Questions
• Britannica Kids
• Saving Earth
• Space Next 50
• Student Center

• Is Internet technology "making us stupid"?
• What is the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) technology on society?

Bunsen burner

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

• Chemistry LibreTexts - Bunsen Burners

Bunsen burner , device for combining a flammable gas with controlled amounts of air before ignition; it produces a hotter flame than would be possible using the ambient air and gas alone. Named for Robert Bunsen , the German chemist who introduced it in 1855 (from a design by Peter Desdega, who likely modified an earlier design by Michael Faraday ), the Bunsen burner was the forerunner of the gas-stove burner and the gas furnace . The Bunsen burner consists of a metal tube on a base with a gas inlet at the lower end of the tube, which may have an adjusting valve; openings in the sides of the tube can be regulated by a collar to admit as much air as desired. The mixture of air and gas (optimally about 1 part gas to 3 parts air) is forced by gas pressure to the top of the tube, where it is ignited with a match . It burns with a pale blue flame, the primary flame, seen as a small inner cone, and a secondary, almost colourless flame, seen as a larger, outer cone, which results when the remaining gas is completely oxidized by the surrounding air.

The hottest part of the Bunsen flame, which is found just above the tip of the primary flame, reaches about 1,500 °C (2,700 °F). With too little air, the gas mixture will not burn completely and will form tiny carbon particles that are heated to glowing, making the flame luminous . With too much air, the flame may burn inside the burner tube; that is, it may strike back. The Meker and Fisher burners, variations of the original Bunsen burner, have metallic grids to increase the turbulence of the mixture and keep the flame at the top of the tube. The Fisher burner uses forced air. There is no secondary flame dependent on surrounding air, because these improvements introduce sufficient air for complete combustion , and the heat of the primary flame is augmented.

• DOI: 10.1007/s12045-022-1369-3
• Corpus ID: 249058524

The Bunsen Burner

• Rajarshi Ghosh
• Published in Resonance 1 May 2022
• Chemistry, Engineering

3 Citations

The emission test for qualitative detection of tin(ii): a plausible mechanistic insight, comparative evaluation of distortion in wax patterns fabricated using conventional and electrical heat sources: an in vitro study, foundational principles of microwave chemistry, 7 references, the origin of the bunsen burner, characterization of biogas-hydrogen premixed flames using bunsen burner, determination of wear metals in used motor oil by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy, continuous liquid-sample introduction for bunsen burner atomic emission spectrometry., bunsen without his burner, determination of calcium in cereal with flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. an experiment for a quantitative methods of analysis course, the centenary of the bunsen burner, related papers.

Showing 1 through 3 of 0 Related Papers

The Bunsen Burner

• General Article
• Published: 24 May 2022
• Volume 27 , pages 745–751, ( 2022 )

Cite this article

• Rajarshi Ghosh 1  

594 Accesses

2 Citations

Explore all metrics

The Bunsen burner was designed by Robert W. E. Bunsen in Germany more than 150 years back. By controlling the mixing of aerial oxygen with the fuel (hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxide, biogas, etc.) or fuel mixture, Bunsen burners can produce either oxidizing or reducing flames. The temperature of the Bunsen burner flame is different in different zones. This burner is mandatory for qualitatively detecting various inorganic and organic samples through the flame test and Lassaigne’s test, respectively. Application of the Bunsen burner extends to atomic absorption spectroscopy and atomic emission spectrometry.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save.

• Get 10 units per month
• Download Article/Chapter or eBook
• 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
• Cancel anytime

Price includes VAT (Russian Federation)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Rent this article via DeepDyve

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Coal type identification based on the emission spectra of a furnace flame

An Optically Approachable Chamber for Determining the Characteristics of Combustion of Process, Hydrogen Mixed and Natural Gases on a Near-Industrial Scale

The impact of c/h on the radiative and thermal behavior of liquid fuel flames and pollutant emissions, suggested reading.

W. B. Jensen, The origin of Bunsen burner, J. Chem. Educ. , Vol.82, p.518, 2005, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/ed082p518 .

Article   Google Scholar  

C. A. Russel, Bunsen without his burner, Phys. Educ. , Vol.34, p.324, 1999, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/0031-9120/34/5/309 .

Google Scholar  

G. Lockemann, The centenary of the Bunsen burner, J. Chem. Educ. , Vol.33, p.20, 1955, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/ed033p20 .

M. Sutton, Blazing a trail, Chemistry World , July, p.47, 2011.

G. W. Castellan, Physical Chemistry , 3rd Edn, Narosa Publishing House, New Delhi, India, p.134, 2004.

Obtained the data of ΔH by calculations using Hess’s law [the ΔH for intermediate reactions are taken from I. A. Levine, Physical Chemistry , Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Limited, New Delhi, India, p.142, 146 and 158; 1995].

http://www.thermopedia.com/content/766/ .

F A Smith and S F Pickering, J. Res. Natl Inst. Stand. Technol. , Vol.17, p.8, 1936.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/bunsen-burner .

S. M. Khopkar, Basic Concepts of Analytical Chemistry , 2nd Edn, New Age International (P) Limited Publishers, New Delhi, India, p.261, 1998.

H. S. Zhen, C. W. Leung, C. S. Cheung and Z. H. Huang, Characterization of biogas-hydrogen premixed flames using Bunsen burner, Int. J. Hydrogen Energ. , Vol.39, pp.13292–13299, 2014, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.06.126 .

Vogel’s Qualitative Inorganic Analysis , 6th Edn revised by G. Svehla, Orient Longman, Hyderabad, India, pp.4–13, 1979.

A. Bazzi, B. Kreuz, J. Fischer, Determination of calcium cereal with flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. An experiment for a quantitative methods of analysis course, J. Chem. Educ. , Vol.81, pp.1042–1044, 2004, https://doi.org/10.1021/ed081p1042

J. A. Palkendo, J. Kovach and T. A. Betts, Determination of wear metals in used motor oil by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy, J. Chem. Educ. , Vol.91, pp.579–582, 2014, https://doi.org/10.1021/ed4004832 .

G. D. Smith, C. L. Sanford and B. T. Jones, Continuous liquid-sample introduction for Bunsen burner atomic emission spectrometry, J. Chem. Educ. , Vol.72, pp.438–440, 1995, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/ed072p438 .

Download references

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Department of Chemistry, The University of Burdwan, Burdwan, 713 104, India

Rajarshi Ghosh

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rajarshi Ghosh .

Additional information

Rajarshi Ghosh is associated with post graduation teaching and research in the Department of Chemistry, The University of Burdwan. His research interest covers synthetic coordination chemistry, bio inspired catalysis, biological inorganic chemistry, etc. Besides these, he is also interested in science popularization .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Ghosh, R. The Bunsen Burner. Reson 27 , 745–751 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12045-022-1369-3

Download citation

Published : 24 May 2022

Issue Date : May 2022

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s12045-022-1369-3

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

• Robert Bunsen
• Bunsen burner
• mechanism of action
• Bunsen flame
• qualitative analysis
• Find a journal
• Publish with us
• Track your research