TODAY IN CHEMISTRY HISTORY

31ST MARCH – BUNSEN BURNER DAY

ROBERT BUNSEN
BORN Cs Rb
31 March 1811
1855 1860 1861
DIED Robert Bunsen is best known for
developing the Bunsen burner, as well as
16 August 1899 discovering caesium and rubidium.

THE FLAME

The coolest flame (safety flame) is

yellow/orange, due to incandescent
THE BUNSEN BURNER
soot particles. The hotter, ‘roaring’
flame is blue.
THE COLLAR
THE BARREL
The collar allows the flow of air into
the burner to be adjusted. A blue,
The barrel raises the height of the roaring flame is produced when it is
flame, allowing it to be used more completely open; a safety flame is
easily for heating. produced when it is closed.

THE FUEL THE AIR HOLE & GAS JET

Methane is usually the gas used from The air hole allows air into the burner
gas taps to fuel Bunsen burners. (adjustable with the collar). The air is
Both propane and butane can also drawn in by the rush of gas ejected
be used as fuels. from the gas jet.

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