Bunsen Burner

Bunsen burner is a very common heating device widely used in chemistry laboratories for heating substances for different experiments. Bunsen burner provides a hot, steady, and smokeless flame. It is a small gas burner with the function of an adjustable flame. The amount of gas and air admitted into the burner is controlled from the base. Bunsen burner produces a single open flame that is used for combustion, heating, and sterilization.

Design of Bunsen Burner
Bunsen burner is made of the following components. It includes a vertical metal tube that is connected to a weighted base. The base has a nozzle, which connects with a fuel source, a gas valve. It has flow adjuster to control how much air is admitted through small air holes at the base of the tube. The fuel mixes with air at the bottom of the tube and rises to the top of the Bunsen burner where it is lit with a match.

• Fuel Source:The Bunsen burner safely burns a continuous stream of any flammable gas such as natural gas (principally methane) or a liquefied petroleum gas like butane or propane or a mixture of both. When it was invented, it would have mostly burnt coal gas.
• Base & Barrel: The burner possess a heavy base so that it may stand firmly on an even surface. The base is provided with a vertical tube (barrel) and a connector for a gas line (hose barb). The hose barb connects the gas nozzle on the lab bench with rubber tubing. Most of the lab benches are attached with several gas nozzles connected to a central gas source, nitrogen, vacuum, and steam nozzles. The gas passes through the base through a small hole at the bottom of the barrel and flow upward. The open air slots provided in the side of the tube bottom allows air to enter the stream via the Venturi effect. Once the gas reaches the top of the barrel it is ignited by a flame or spark.
• Air Hole : The completeness of the combustion reaction is affected by the amount of air mixed with the gas stream. Lesser amount of air results in an incomplete and cooler reaction. Whereas fuel stream well mixed with air provides oxygen in an equimolar amount and thus complete combustion is obtained. The air flow is controlled by opening or closing the slot openings at the base of the barrel.

How to light a bunsen burner?
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Safety Guidelines for Using Bunsen Burner
While using Bunsen burners there are always the chances of fire hazards. These burners burn at a high temperature and produce an open flame. Bunsen burner flames are very dangerous. It is very important to follow certain guidelines for the safety and convenience of all lab personnel.

• All combustible materials, papers, notebooks and excess chemicals should be removed from the surrounding.
• The Bunsen burner should be placed away from any overhead equipment, light fixtures or shelving.
• Inspect the hose for holes, pinched points, cracks, or any other defect and ensure that the hose fits securely on the gas valve and the Bunsen burner.
• Loose clothing, long hairs or dangling jeweleries should be tied at the time of using the burner.
• The hoses having any defect must be replaced before using.
• All other lab personnel should be notified that the burner will be in use.
• The open burners should not be unattended. Never leave the laboratory putting the burner on.
• Always shut off the gas supply when its use is done.

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History of Burners

Robert Bunsen (1811-1899) Robert Wilhelm Eberhard Bunsen, a German chemist and physicist, is known for his work in inorganic chemistry. He invented the burner in 1855, which was named after him. Bunsen invented or improved on the electrochemical battery (Bunsen battery), the spectroscope, and the photometer. He was one of the founders of the field of spectroscopy.

Heating is required for a number of chemical reactions in chemistry laboratories and this calls for the need of burners. Whether changing sand into glass, transforming dull rock into gleaming metal or separating mixtures into intoxicating vapors, a hot flame has always played a starring role in the laboratory. Heating was a problem for all chemists till the 19th century. Charcoal burners and furnaces were used for calcinations but delicate experiments like distillation demanded something more subtle. The oil-based heaters had the problem of sootiness of the flame, which blackened the flasks and reduced the amount of heat the lamp could deliver. Spirit lamp was a better option. The amount of alcohol in the spirit was crucial. As pure ethanol burns with a luminous, sooty flame, so adding water reduced the soot but also the combustion temperature. In 1855, an efficient burner was invented by Mr. Robert Bunsen and his assistant, which was named as Bunsen burner.