Lighting and Adjusting a Bunsen Burner Flame

Step 1 Make sure your safety goggles are on and your hair is tied back. the gas outlet, the gas adjustment and the air adjustment should all be in the closed or off position

Step 2 Check to see if the other person sharing your outlet has closed their gas adjustment on their Bunsen burner open the gas outlet at the wall

Step 3 open the gas adjustment on your Bunsen burner

Step 4 Hold the striker over the barrel to catch gas in the cup squeeze the striker repeatedly until the Bunsen burner lights

Step 5 When the Bunsen burner lights, the flame will be yellow and too tall. Open the air adjustment and add air until the flame is light blue and has a good inner and outer cone

Step 6 If the flame begins to make a rattling sound you have added too much air and the burner is about to go out. Close the air adjustment until the flame is quiet.

Step 7 Finally, use the gas adjustment to adjust the size of the flame to about 2 inches in height.

Step 8 If you have ANY problems, close the gas outlet and call the teacher

Parts of a Bunsen Burner Barrel Air adjustment Gas intake base Gas adjustment

Parts of a properly adjusted flame Outer cone Inner cone not very hot hottest

Temperature of a Methane Flame hottest (tip of inner cone) not very hot (inside of inner cone)