Experiment No.

2
THE BUNSEN BURNER

I. Objectives:
At the end of the experiment the learners are expected to:
1. Identify and explain the different parts of the Bunsen burner,
2. Demonstrate on how to lit the burner,
3. Assemble and disassemble the parts of the Bunsen burner,
4. Give the other types of burner to be used in the laboratory.

II. Apparatus/Materials:
Bunsen burner matches
evaporating dish square cardboard (10cm x 10cm)
crucible tong stopwatch / wristwatch

III. Discussions:

A Bunsen burner (name after its inventor, Robert Bunsen) is a

device for mixing combustible gas and air in such a manner that upon
ignition of the mixture a useful flame is obtained.

The burner usually provided with an adjustment device, which is

the gas regulator, by means of which one may regulate the composition
of the mixture of fuel, gas and air. Shown in fig.1.1, type A of
Bunsen burner has its gas regulator as a knob found immediately before
the gas inlet, while in type B, the gas regulator is of screw type and
is connected to the collar and base. Type C has no gas regulator.

Fig. 1.1

Burning or combustion is an example of chemical change. Chemical

changes will be taken up more fully in the lecture. They are more
often called chemical reactions, which depict the formation of new
substances (products) from existing ones (reactants) using symbols.
Burning is actually a reaction of the fuel with oxygen from air and

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heat is generated in the process (it is an exothermic reaction). In
the chemical reaction, the letters in parentheses tell us whether the
substances are gaseous (g), in the liquid state (l), dissolve in water
(aq), or in solid state(s), at the temperature of chemical reaction.
The symbol under the arrow means that heat is needed for initial
burning to happen. The heat subsequently released in burning is more
than enough to ensure continuous combustion for as long as methane gas
is available.

For the burning of the gas (usually methane) with the presence of
an adequate amount of oxygen which is supplied by the atmosphere,
methane is completely burned to CO2 and H2O, producing a non-luminous
flame.

When the amount of oxygen present is insufficient, methane

undergoes incomplete combustion according to the reaction:

Incomplete combustion of the gas produces luminous flame.

IV. Procedures:

1. Disassemble it and identify its parts by comparing them with the

label parts as indicated in the illustrations. Clean the parts
particularly the gas inlet. Reassemble the burner. Draw your own
burner and label its parts. State the function of its parts (1a.)

“Back-firing” happens when too much air is admitted. If this happens,

turn off the gas supply at once. DO NOT TOUCH the burner until you
have allowed cooling it sufficiently. Before you relight the burner,
decrease the amount of air admitted into the burner by partly closing
the air holes with a turn of the collar. Back-firing is dangerous
since the burner releases poisonous gases every time it occurs. 2.
Connect the burner to a gas outlet with rubber tubing. Setting the air
holes partially open, hold a lighted match above the burner to a gas
outlet with rubber tubing. Setting the air holes partially open, hold
a lighted match above the burner and then turn on the gas slowly until
a flame 6-8 cm is obtained. This is the proper way of lighting the
burner.

3. Close the air holes completely and observe the appearance of the
flame. Let us label it flame A. Record the color and luminosity or

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brightness of flame A (3a). Using a crucible tong hold a porcelain
dish on this flame for a moment. What is deposited on the porcelain
dish (3b)? Flame A always forms a deposit like the one above. This
type of flame should never be used unless specifically directed to do
so.

4. Open the air holes of the burner gradually until the burner starts
to roar. With the air holes open, enough amount of air mix with the
gas going up the barrel. A different kind of flame is produced. This
is the type of flame you should use in all your experiments unless
directed otherwise. Too much air will make the flame roar and cause it
to snap out. Adjust the air intake until the roaring just stops. The
flame should look as shown in fig.1.2, with the two regions visible.

Fig. 1.2

Label it flame B. Note its color and luminosity (4a). Hold a clean
portion of the porcelain dish in the flame. Is there a deposit on the
porcelain dish (4b)? In this part of the experiment, you will study
more closely the various feature of flame B.

5. Insert a match quickly onto the flame just above the barrel. Note
the time before it ignites (5a). Put a match at the top of the inner
cone. Note the time before it ignites (5b). Do the same for the tip of
the outer cone. Note the time before the match ignites (5c). The time
intervals give you an idea on the relative temperature at the

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different portion of the flame tested. Which portion of the flame is
the hottest (5d)? Which is the least hot?

6. Wet a piece of cardboard and insert it vertically in the center of

the flame so that the bottom of the cardboard touches the barrel head
until a drying pattern begins to form on the cardboard. Remove the
cardboard as soon as it shows a tendency to char. What part of the
flame is the hottest? (6a) the coolest? (6b) Draw a sketch of the
cardboard showing the drying pattern and label them hot, hotter,
hottest (6c)

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 Experiment No. 2
THE BUNSEN BURNER

REPORT SHEET #2

Name: ______________________________ Score: ______________________

Class Schedule: _____________________ Date performed: ____________
Group No: ___________________________ Instructors’ Signature: _____

I. Data/ Results:

1a. Draw your own burner and label its parts. State the function of
its parts.

Drawing:

Parts & Functions:

_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

3a. Describe the color and luminosity or brightness of flame A.

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

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3b. What is deposited on the porcelain dish? _____________________

4a. Describe the color and luminosity of flame B.

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

4b. Is there a deposit on the porcelain dish? _____________________

For 5a, 5b, and 5c; Time when matchstick ignites in the different
part of the flame:

5a. Just above the barrel: ______________________________________

5b. Top of the inner cone: _____________________________________

5c. Tip of the outer cone: _____________________________________

5d. Which portion of the flame is the hottest? ________________

5e. Which portion of the flame is the least hot? _______________

6a. What part of the flame is the hottest? Why? ________________

____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

6b. What part of the flame is the coolest? Why? ________________

____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

6c. Sketch the cardboard showing the drying pattern.

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II. Questions:

1. What is a flame?

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

2. Differentiate the two kinds of flame.

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

3. What makes a flame non -luminous? Luminous?

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

III. Conclusion:

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