Bunsen burner

• Luminous flame:

  • Obtained when air-holes are closed
  • Temperature lower than non-luminous flame
  • Flame is unstable (flickering)
  • Easily seen from far, orange/yellow color, incomplete combustion
• A non-luminous flame results in a greater change in the temperature of water compared to a luminous flame, so it's used to heat water
• Steps to produce a Bunsen flame (spark):

  1. Attach gas tubing
  2. Close air-hole
  3. Turn on gas tap
  4. Hold lighter near the top of the barrel
  5. Ignite the burner with a flame lighter
  6. Open the air hole
• a strike back occurs when gas tap is opened too much and too much oxygen goes in, resulting in a gas explosion
• To light a Bunsen burner with a butane lighter, light the fire before turning on the gas
• Non luminous flame:

  • obtained when air holes are open
  • high temperature and steady flame
  • flame can’t be easily seen from far
  • blue colour and complete combustion