Name: Andres A.
Andres Course and Section: BSEE 1-B
Subject and Schedule: CHE10-Lab M/W/F 8-9am Group #: 2
LABORATORY REPORT II
THE GAS BURNER
INTRODUCTION:
The video entitled “Gas Burner Experiment” mainly discusses about the
fundamental knowledge about Bunsen gas burner. It also elaborates some essential
knowings with relevance to the main discussion. To state some, the definition and
description of gas burner - its efficient use, parts, functions, operations and other
relevant information which is inclined with the main topic.
OBJECTIVE:
1. To become familiar with the different parts of the gas burner.
2. To know the function of each part.
3. To know how to operate and manipulate the gas burner.
MATERIALS:
Gas Burner Nichrome Wire in a Cork
Test Tubes Wash Bottle
Test Tube Rack Graduated Cylinder
Test Tube Holder
EXPERIMENTAL QUESTIONS:
Gas and Air Control
Test Tube Type of flame Time it took to boil 20.00 mL of water
Luminous yellow
Test tube #1 12.72 seconds
flame
Non-luminous blue
Test tube #2 5.18 seconds
flame
Temperature of the Flame
Approximate
Part of the flame Color of wire produced
temperature
Just above the barrel No change None
Tip of the inner cone Orange 1100 oC
Space between the tip of
the inner cone and the Red 700 oC
outer cone
Tip of the outer cone Faint red 500 oC
QUESTIONS:
1. How to light gas burner?
1. Lubricate the gas source.
2. In a twisting motion, insert the gas tube.
*check if it is fixed*
3. Close the air holes of the gas burner.
4. Open the gas regulator.
5. Light a matchstick.
6. Open the gas cock (from the gas source).
7. Control the air holes.
*to make the flame blue, open the air holes*
*to make the flame higher, close the air holes*
8. Open further the gas regulator.
*open the air holes*
9. Close the gas cock to put off the flame.
2. What’s the difference of a complete combustion and a partial combustion?
Complete combustion is a process wherein a single mole of methane will
react to a sufficient two mole of oxygen from the air to create a mole of carbon
dioxide along with two moles of water and the release of heat; the usual colour
of the flame is bluish which is non-luminous.
In contrast, partial combustion refers to the process wherein two moles of
methane reacts to an insufficient three moles of oxygen which further creates
a mole of carbon dioxide, four moles of water, one mole of carbon (C), and
heat; and it forms luminous flame of yellow.
For simpler differentiation, partial combustion forms carbon - the black
substance formed when using gas burner - while complete combustion
doesn’t form such.
Combustion Complete Partial
Reactant
CH4 (methane) 1 mol 2 mol
O2 (oxygen air) 2 mol 3 mol
Product
CO2 (carbon dioxide) 1 mol 1 mol
H2O (water) 2 mol 4 mol
C (carbon) None 1 mol
Heat released Yes Yes
Bluish Yellow
Flame
Non- luminous luminous
3. Why should the match be lighted before turning on the gas?
The match should be lit first before turning on the gas because the match
plays an essential role in the ignition of the burner - it allows the gas to create
flame once it is struck. Additionally, turning on the gas first may cause a gas
build-up inside the laboratory. If the match doesn't get lit immediately after
turning on the gas source, the gas build up can cause an explosion and
potentially harm the laboratory performers.
4. What is the effect of the gas and air control in producing a Luminous and Non-
Luminous Flame?
Amount Less air More air
Less fuel Non- luminous Non- luminous
More fuel Luminous Luminous
This means that if the air has greater amount than the fuel then the flame
would be non-luminous. As more air is introduced to a constant amount of
fuel, the flame colour changes from luminous yellow flame to non- luminous
bluish flame and the flame volume decreases slightly which means that if a
sufficient oxygen air is introduced, the methane undergoes complete
oxidation.
While as the amount of air introduced decreases or when the air is
insufficient and the oxygen scarce for oxidation then under these conditions
the methane is not completely oxidized resulting in the production of carbon
which glow at the elevated temperature in a luminous flame.
5. Explain why closing (tightening) the Needle Valve would give a smaller but more
intense blue, roaring flame.
Decreasing the amount of fuel gas flow through the tube by tightening the
needle valve will decrease the size of the flame which decreases the amount of
fuel needed to combust and with the airflow is regulated by opening the air
holes, there are more oxygen for oxidization which gives more intense blue
roaring flame.
6. How to test the temperature of the flame?
To test the temperature of the flame, you need a Nichrome wire in a cork. Position it
in top of the barrel in different parts of the flame - either just above the barrel, at the
middle of the inner cone, at the tip of the inner cone, at the space between the tip of the
inner cone and the outer cone, or at the tip of the outer cone. Record the approximate
temperatures to differentiate where part is the hottest and least hot.
7. What is the hottest portion of the flame?
The hottest portion of the flame is the orange part which is found just at the
tip of the primary flame or inner cone with an approximate temperature of
1,100oC or roughly 2,012oF.
CONCLUSION:
Generally, plenty of ideas regarding the basics of gas burner can be
acquired from the video discussion. This includes the wholeness of gas burner -
description and definition, uses, parts and functions as well as how to operate it
effectively. Another learning gained is how flame is formed along with the
difference of luminous and non-luminous flame; and the complete and partial
combustion. Steps and important notices in lighting a gas burner, alongside the
regulation and function of its parts are also learned in the video. Lastly,
experiments were also performed which added to the techniques in boiling liquid
in different types of flame and testing the temperature of the flame. To conclude,
the video massively contributed to the overall knowledge regarding gas burners.
