10 facts about Bunsen Burners and their inventor:
- Invented by Robert Bunsen and his lab assistant, Peter Desaga, in 1854 for use in his new laboratory at the University of Heidelberg.
- Robert Bunsen's speciality was analysing the colours of elements when they were heated, which is why he needed a safe, controllable burner.
- Robert Bunsen discovered the elements Caesium and Rubidium using flame spectroscopy.
- He also discovered an antidote to arsenic poisoning.
- The gas burned in Bunsen burners is methane, propane or butane, or a mixture of them.
- The amount of heat given off is controlled by varying the amount of air mixed with the gas stream. The more air, the hotter the flame.
- The hottest flames are blue in colour; the coolest ones are Yellow.
- The flames can reach temperatures of around 1000 degrees C.
- There is a Muppet character named after this piece of scientific kit - Dr Bunsen Honeydew, who demonstrates his wacky inventions on the show, aided by his hapless assistant, Beaker. The pair were voted Britain's favourite film scientists in 2004, beating even Mr Spock into second place.
- Bunsen Burner Day is celebrated on this date because it is the birthday of Robert Bunsen, born in 1811.
No comments:
Post a Comment