Term 1 Second Entry: A Bunsen Burner

Figure B

Figure A

A bunsen burner is an apparatus that ignites fire for the experiments in the Science lab. A bunsen burner, as shown in Figure A, can produce a non- luminous  and a luminous flame. A luminous flame is the flame that isn’t really hot. It is flickering, orange/yellow in colour, and can be seen from afar. However, a non- luminous flame is steady, blue in colour and cammot be seen from afar. We use a non- luminous flame for experiments as not only is it hotter than a luminous flame, there is sufficient gas for the fire to burn completely. A bunsen burner is made up of a barrel, a collar, an air-hole, a jet, a base, and a gas tap. Shown in Figure B

Barrel: To raise the flame to a suitable height

Collar: Control the air flowing into the Bunsen Burner

Air-hole: To allow air to enter the Bunsen Burner

Jet: To enable gas to rush out of the gas supply and to draw in air

Base; To support the Bunsen Burner so that it would not topple

Gas Tap: To control the flow of gas to the Bunsen Burner

Now knowing the various parts of the Bunsen Burner, how do we light one?

1. Close the air- hole
2. Put a gas lighter above the barrel
3. Turn on the gas tap
4. Strike the lighter to ignite the gas

Open the air- holes until a n0n-luminous flame is obtained.

What is a strike-back?  A strike- back will occur when there is too much air holes. We must turn off the gas tap immediately before the flame gets too big and hurt us.