Introduction to Lab

Bunsen Burner

Year 7 Science
Endeavour College
Bunsen Burner
A Bunsen Burner is one of the most useful pieces of equipment in the laboratory.
The flame of the Bunsen burner is used to heat things in the laboratory. Under the
right conditions, the hottest part of a Bunsen burner flame can be over 1500 ͦ ͨ
What are the differences between the Two Pictures?
How many did you spot?

One has a blue flame the other has a yellow

flame.

One has the air hole shut the other does not.

The blue has a stronger flame.

Now carefully watch

the demonstration
of the proper use of
a Bunsen burner.
Using a Bunsen burner
A mixture of LPG (liquid petroleum gas) and air is used to produce a good flame for
heating. The Bunsen burner has a collar that can be turned to open or close the air
hole. The position of the collar controls how much air enters the burner and
therefore how hot the flame is. If the hole is closed, less air can mix with the gas.

This results in a yellow safety flame. If the collar hole is open, air mixes with the
gas, allowing a hotter blue flame to burn.
When alight but not being used for heating, the Bunsen burner should be left on the
yellow (safety) flame, which is not as hot and is easy to see.
The safety flame is always used lighting the burner.
Student Task – Label the Bunsen Burner
roaring flame
Keywords
• collar
• tubing
chimney
• air hole
• roaring flame
• yellow flame collar
• chimney
• base base Air hole

Extension
1. What does the air hole do?
2. What colour would the flame be if the
Bunsen burner had the safety flame on?
3. Why is it called the safety flame? tubing
 Using a Bunsen Burner – Observations
Colour Noise When Is It used? Amount of Oxygen
Air Hole Open Blue Noisy To heat Lots
things quickly.

Air Hole Blue Quite To heat A little

Half Open noisy things slowly.

Air Hole Yellow Quiet For safety, when Very little

Fully Shut the Bunsen burner
is not
in use.

What safety precautions do we need to follow before we can use a Bunsen burner?
Stand-up, put goggles on, tie hair back, put bags away, tuck ties in.
Very carefully, collect a Bunsen burner and a heatproof mat from the side.
Why do we need a heat proof mat?
To prevent the Bunsen burner from burning the desk.
Using a Bunsen Burner to Boil Water
Equipment list:
• Bunsen burner
Set up your Bunsen • tripod
burner as shown. • gauze
• heatproof mat
• beaker
Once the Bunsen burner has been set up, safely measure the • thermometer
temperature of the water every 30 seconds until the water starts to
boil.

• How do you know the water is boiling?

Follow the instructions on the practical report task sheet carefully