An Introduction to

The Bunsen Burner

A Lab for Grades 4-10
 Overview
Bunsen burners produce an open flame and burn
at a high temperature, and as a result, there is
potential for an accident to occur. For everyone’s
safety, it is important that the following
guidelines be observed. In case of a fire, activate
the nearest fire alarm pull station, notify all lab
personnel, and evacuate the building.

Safety Guidelines
 Place the Bunsen burner away from any
overhead shelving, equipment or light fixtures
by at least 12 inches.
 Remove all papers, notebooks, combustible
materials and excess chemicals from the area.
 Tie-back any long hair, dangling jewelry, or
loose clothing.
 Inspect hose for cracks, holes, pinch points or
any defect.
 Utilize a sparker/lighter with extended nozzle
to ignite the burner. Never use a match to
ignite a burner.
 Do not leave open flames unattended and never
leave the laboratory while the burner is on.
 Shut off gas when its use is complete.
 Allow the burner to cool before handling.
Ensure that the main gas valve is off before
leaving the laboratory.
NAME: __________________________
DATE: _____________________
An Introduction to the Bunsen Burner
Purpose: _________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

Materials:

 Bunsen burner matches a gas source

 inoculating loop glass rod goggles

Parts of a Bunsen Burner and their Function

1. Label the diagram of a Bunsen burner using the following terms

Air holes Gas control Valve Tube/barrel

Gas Inlet Rubber tubing Base
Collar Needle valve Outer Cone
Inner Cone
2. Name the gas used in a Bunsen burner and the chemical formula.

3. Describe the function of the following parts of the Bunsen burner.

Outer cone:

Inner cone:

Gas Inlet:

Gas Control Valve:

Air holes:

Burner Tube/barrel:

Collar:

Needle valve:

Base:
Lighting the Bunsen Burner
4. Describe the steps in the space provided


Adjusting the Flame

5. Close the air holes by turning the collar. What color is the flame? __________

6. Carefully open the air holes. What color is the flame now?_______________

7. Open the air vents enough so that two cones can be seen. Draw the flame with
the inner and outer cone.
8. Using an inoculating loop- a tool a microbiologist uses for transferring bacteria-
test the various parts of the flame for heat. What is the hottest region of the
flame (mark the region with an X in the above diagram) Explain?

9. Turn the gas off. Obtain a match and put a pin through it horizontally. Place pin
over the hole of the burner tube so that the head of the match is centered in
the barrel tube. Turn on the gas and re-light the bunsen burner. Describe and
provide an explanation as to what happened.

Match stick

Pin

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

10.Turn the gas off. Place a long glass tube in the burner barrel so that the
bottom of the glass tube is stabilized at an angle. Turn the gas on then
bring a lit match towards the open top of the glass tube. Describe what
happens and provide an explanation.
 Glass Rod

Extinguishing the Burner

11.When you are finished with the Bunsen burner what do you do?

12. Why must you be careful about shutting off the main gas valve?

Bunsen Burner Safety:

13.What 4 things should be away from the flame of a Bunsen burner?

14.Would you hold a test tube in your hands to heat it? What would you use?
 ANSWERS:

An Introduction to the Bunsen Burner

Purpose: To become familiar with the parts and function of a Bunsen burner
while safely using one.

Materials:

 Bunsen burner Match stick A gas source

 Inoculating loop Glass rod Goggles
 Sewing pin

Parts of a Bunsen Burner and their Function

1. Label the diagram of a Bunsen burner using the following terms

Air holes Gas control Valve Tube/barrel

Gas Inlet Rubber tubing Base
Collar Needle valve Outer Cone
Inner Cone

Outer Cone

Inner Cone
Tube/Barrel
Rubber tubing

Air holes
Gas control valve

Collar

Needle valve Gas inlet

Base
2. Name the gas used in a Bunsen burner and the chemical formula.
Methane, CH4

3. Describe the function of the following parts of the Bunsen burner.

Outer cone: Combustion is occurring here. It is the hottest part of the flame.

Inner cone: Consists of a mix of air and gas. No burning is occurring here.

Gas Inlet: Entrance of gas to the burner.

Gas Control Valve: Controls the amount of gas entering burner.

Air holes: Entrance for oxygen to enter and mix with the gas to support
burning.

Burner Tube/barrel: To raise the flame to a suitable height.

Collar: Controls the amount of air entering the burner by opening and closing
the holes.

Needle valve: Controls the amount of gas flowing to the burner.

Base: To support the burner so it doesn’t topple over.

Lighting the Bunsen Burner
4. Describe the steps in the space provided
 Make sure the hose is securely attached to the outlet valve and the Bunsen
burner.
 Make sure the needle valve and air vents are closed
 Turn on gas valve so that it’s in line with gas outlet.
 Strike a match and light the burner, turning needle valve until flame
begins.
 Turn collar until you get a blue flame.

Adjusting the Flame

5. Close the air holes by turning the collar. What color is the flame? orange_

6. Carefully open the air holes. What color is the flame now? blue

7. Open the air vents enough so that two cones can be seen. Draw the flame with
the inner and outer cone.
8. Using an inoculating loop- a tool used by microbiologists for transferring
bacteria, test the various parts of the flame for heat. What is the hottest
region of the flame (mark the region with an X in the above diagram) Explain?

The hottest part of the flame is the outer cone, in particular the area just above
the inner cone.

9. Turn the gas off. Obtain a match and put a pin through it horizontally. Place pin
over the hole of the burner tube so that the head of the match is centered in
the barrel tube. Turn on the gas and re-light the bunsen burner. Describe and
provide an explanation as to what happened.

The match didn’t ignite. The reason is

because the head of the match is located
within the inner cone. This area is where
oxygen and methane gases mix,
however no combustion occurs here.

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

10.Turn the gas off. Place a long glass tube in the burner barrel so that the
bottom of the glass tube is stabilized at an angle. Turn the gas on then
bring a lit match towards the open top of the glass tube. Describe what
happens and provide an explanation.
 The top of the glass rod ignites a small
Glass Rod
blue flame. The reason is because the
methane gas travels up through the
glass tube and is the source of
combustion.

Extinguishing the Burner

11.When you are finished with the Bunsen burner what do you do?

Turn the needle valve to the right to close it, then turn the gas control valve to
the off position- perpendicular to the outlet.

12. Why must you be careful about shutting off the main gas valve?

You need to know which direction to turn the valve off. If left parallel to
The outlet, gas will continue to seep out of it.

Bunsen Burner Safety:

13.What 4 things should be away from the flame of a Bunsen burner?

1. Remove all paper and other combustible materials away from the
burner.
2. Keep chemical bottles far away from the burner.
3. Tie your hair back.
4. No dangling jewelry or loose clothing should be worn.

14.Would you hold a test tube in your hands to heat it? What would you use?

No, you would use a test tube holder!

 NAME:__________________________________

DATE:___________________________

Quiz on the Bunsen Burner

1. What is the first step for lighting the burner?
a. Strike match away from yourself and others.
b. Close the air holes before turning the gas on.
c. Open gas jet and hold match over barrel.
d. Bring the lit match up a long side the barrel.

2. When the air hole in a Bunsen burner is opened

a. The gas does not burn well, producing a very hot, blue flame.
b. The gas burns efficiently, producing a relatively cool, yellow flame.
c. The gas burns well, producing a very hot, blue flame.
d. The gas does not burn well, producing a relatively cool, yellow flame.

3. Alcohol, acetone, and other volatile materials that can burn easily should never be
used near
a. another person
b. a laboratory counter
c. an open flame
d. a work table

4. The first step to turning off a bunsen burner is to

a. Blow it out.
b. Close the gas control valve.
c. Close the needle valve.
d. Pull the tubing off the gas inlet.
5. The ____________ of the Bunsen burner controls the amount of air entering it.
a. Base
b. Collar
c. Air-hole
d. Barrel
 NAME:__________________________________

DATE:___________________________

Complete the labelling on the following parts of the Bunsen Burner

1.

2.
3.

5.

4. 5.

6. 7.

8.
 fasdfsadfs
NAME:__________________________________

DATE:___________________________

Bunsen Burner Word Scramble

ANSWERS
QUIZ

1. b 2. c 3. c 4. c 5. B

WORD SCRAMBLE (in order from top)

Air holes
Gas Inlet
Collar
Needle Valve
Outer Cone
Inner Cone
Gas control valve
Rubber Tubing
Base