Bunsen Burner Notes/Demo
Purpose:
To learn to safely light,
control and use a
Bunsen Burner
That really hurt!
http://vimeo.com/6482824
•  Bunsen Burner
Diagram and Function
Combustion nozzle
Gas jet
Barrel/body tube
inside
Air intake
Base
Gas valve/dial
Needle valve
–  air intake: adjustable; controls amount of
oxygen
–  combustion nozzle: gas and air mix to
ignite
–  barrel: turn this to adjust air intake
–  gas valve: adjustable; controls amount of
gas entering burner
–  base: holds up Bunsen burner
–  needle valve: adjust amount of gas going
through gas jet
–  gas jet: small hole that gas goes through
Friday, December 6, 2013
EW: What would you want to do to keep you
safe when using a Bunsen Burner?
Today:
Finish Bunsen Burner Notes and Demo
Steps to Light Burner
1.  Attach burner and tubing to bench gas. Make sure the
lab bench gas valve, and the air intake and needle
valve on the burner are in the closed position.
2.  Allow a small amount of air into the combustion nozzle
by turning the barrel ½ turn.
3.  Allow a small amount of gas into the combustion nozzle
by turning the needle valve ½ turn.
4.  Turn on the gas on the lab bench by turning the valve
until it is in line with the nozzle.
5.  Light the burner at the top of the combustion nozzle
with the striker.
NOTE: If the burner doesn’t ignite after 3 tries with the
striker, turn off the bench gas valve, wait a minute,
open the needle valve a bit more, and then try again.
Adjusting the Flame
•  After lighting:
–  Adjust needle valve so yellow flame is about
15 cm high (6 inches). This is a cold, or
candle flame – less O2, less complete
combustion.
–  Open the air intake until the flame is blue and
has 2 distinct cones, an internal bright blue
cone and external lighter blue cone. This is a
hot flame – more O2, more complete
combustion.
Hot flame
Cold flame
Acid & Base Safety
•  MSDS – Material Safety Data Sheet lists
all safety information for chemicals.
•  Acids – hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid,
nitric acid
–  Corrosive
–  Toxic due to corrosiveness & inhalation
•  Bases – sodium hydroxide, potassium
hydroxide
–  Corrosive
Use of Acids & Bases
–  Dispense from small bottles to reduce
exposure and limit large spills
–  Never return unused chemicals to dispensing
bottle
–  Use in fume hood
–  Wear goggles, aprons and gloves
–  Dilute in water before disposal
–  Treat exposure by flushing with water
–  Clean spills with absorbent material (paper
toweling, sodium bicarbonate, kitty litter)
Monday, December 9, 2013
EW: How do you make a flame
hotter?
Today:
Quiz
Bunsen Burner Lab
Bunsen Burner Lab
•  Purpose
1. To safely light and use a Bunsen burner.
2. Make a hot flame & find the hottest part.
3.  Make very “cold” flame.
4.  To observe the flame color of chemical
solutions.
•  Materials
– Bunsen burner
– paper clips
– striker
– chemical solutions
– safety goggles
•  “Conclusion”
1.  Explain:
a.  how to get a very hot flame
b.  where the hottest part of this flame is
(explain or draw)
c.  how to get a very cool flame
2. Describe your flame test. What might
you be able to determine about a
chemical compound from a flame test?