Experiment I

Chemistry of Fire

Problem
various
What is the most efficient flame for a Bunsen burner? How is a Bunsen burner used to heat
substances?

Introduction
l gas
The Bunsen burner is the most common source of heat in the chemistry laboratory. Natura
enters the burner near the base, rises through a barrel, mixes with air, and burns. By proper
adjustments the most efficient flame can be obtained.
nation
The typical Bunsen burner contains the parts shown in Figure 1. Variations such as a combi
in Figure
collar and barrel are often seen. Look at your burner and identify each of the parts shown
investi gation of the proble m.
1. Gather the materials given in the list below and begin your

Barrel

Air port

Sliding collar

Figure 1
Parts of a Bunsen Burner

Prelaboratory Assignment
V Read the Introduction and Procedure before you begin.
V Answer the Prelaboratorv Questions.
l Draw a Bunsen burner and label its parts.
2. What is the proper color for a burner flame?

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 Materials
Safety goggles Bunsen burner
Lab apron Wire gauze
Matches Test tube and holder
Tongs Ring stand and iron ring
Copper wire Metric ruler
Stirring rod 100 mL graduated cylinder
Thermometer 250 mL beaker
Hot pad

Safety 1’
L Wear safety goggles and lab apron whenever working in the
laboratory.
2 When using a Bunsen burner:
Confine long hair and loose clothing
V Never leave a burner unattended
V Do not reach over the burner
V Make sure no flammables are near the burner
3, When heating test tubes:
V Do not point the open end toward any person
V Do not heat the bottom of the test tube

Procedure
Part 1 Use of the Burner

Setting the flame

1. Be sure the hose is securely fastened to both the burner
and the gas outlet,
2. Strike the match before turning on the gas. Turn on the
gas to the maximum open position and
light the burner.

3. The flame can be adjusted by turning the barrel (or openin

g the air ports).
a If the flame is a yellow color, use the barrel and air ports
to adjust it until it is completely
blue and shows an inner cone as illustrated in Figure 2,’

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 \ Oxidizing

__— Hottest
Yellow Blue flames
flame (with conesi Reducino

lmprooer Pr p
adustrrer I adjustme t

Figure 2
Adjusting a burner flame

b. If the flame is blue without the inner cone, adjust the bat rd or air ports until an inner cone is
visible

The hottest part of the flame

4, Use tongs to hold a piece of copper wir’ and insert t nto tft flaffejust above the top of the
barrel

5. Slowly lift the wire up through the flame. Observe and record the color of the copper wire at
various heights. The wire is hottest when it glows red. Record which is the hottest part of the
flame.

6, Remove the wire from the flame and a o v it t ool on a hea r sis ant urfacc

Heating a test tube

7, Half fill a test tube with tap water. Appiy heat to tFe side of th test tube as shown in figure 3.
Notice that the top of the test tube is at an angle and pointed away from all people in the area

Q._Teottube

Figure 3
Hea g a liquid r a test tub

S fa d te c b c u
wsr 0 ver f etu out C UsC C
eniv C hc ‘sate JIino e ride ar 1k k atC
1
i

i! if7;; ( r.PiiJl

- fl rg U P
 Heating a larger volume of liquid
9, To heat larger amounts of water use the set-up shown in Figure 4 Assemble this apparatus now
for use in the next part of your Investigation Place the bottom of the beaker exactly 15 0 cm
above the top of the Bunsen burner, Also measure the distance of the ring from the surface of
the lab bench as a reference for future adjustments of the ring height.

Ring Stirring rod

I 5Orn beaker

Wire gauze

Bunsen burner

Figure 4
Heating a larger amount of liquid

Part 2 Efficiency of the Bunsen Burner

If you are not using a Report Sheet for this experiment make a Data Table for this section with the
headings shown below

1
rjJ
m The Vo igh l
of water beaker over Reading Reading
3 4 5

1. Use a table to record the data ft r five er ‘Is. Mea cach sair pie or five minutes taking the
temperature at one-minute intc als

2. Ligl’t the burner aid adjust tic flame pro eriy Note: It ts nportant hat he burne not be
tine o ta d ii I t s e er ti et

3. For each trial do the follov.ing

Meas re 80 sa g a or a e i tide md pou it it he beaker
b. Place the burner under the beaker and heat th water for five minutes taking the temperature
of the mmater even minute

‘ipi psi “mv!rto,1 f:fi7m *mvaio

ill ight rese ed
 c. For each tempera ure reading:
I The water should be st r ed with a gla stirr ng rod jus before a l ad r g
2. The thermometer should not be used to stir th wate ior sf uld it be allcv ed to rest
on the bottom of the beaker
3. The temperature will change very rapidly when the thermometer is first placed in the
water Wait to record the temperature until the rate of change is sl w
4 Remove the thermome er and eareftill p ace t n the ble I ier o nete break
1 Do not shake these therm meters r wave them i the a
very easily
d. After the last temperature reading remove the burner from under the beaker Remember not
to turn it offi

4 After each trial is omplete carefull remove the beaker use t ngs or h t pa froir ti’ stand
and pour the water i ito the Si k. i oroughiy rinse the beaker with Cool vatei brir g ‘back tu
room temperature

5. Lower the ring about 2 5 cm from the previous setting. Be careful, the r’ng is hot R cord the
new height accurately on your data able

6. Repeat steps 2 5 for each remaining trial. Be sure to record the data after each measurement

Cleaning Up 4:’ •
1. Any broken glass should be carefully placed in a labeled container for broken glass
2. Carefully clean your glassware and return all of your equipment to its proper location
3. Wash your hands before leaving the iaboratorv

Analysis and ConLlusions

Complete the Analysis and Conclusions section for this experiment either on your Report Sheet or
in your lab report as directed by your teacher

I Make a graph of t mtr atur er u t me Plot e on th ax s (ho iz ta d i’ra ur

on the y axis ertica Pla he p s for al of t e rials on the s me g ph ci rae line
with the height of the beaker above the burner
2. Which line shows the most efficient heating of the water? Explain why von chose this line.
3. What a e the dvant re of sing a b ue fla ne inst ad of yellov one fo bean g obje s in tir
1

4 her the tes t o blu ame

5 When orating a ubstazce oer a Bunsen bnrner wnere shouid the object or nia ed fn must
enet L,IdLifl-/) 1.’
,,‘
.-‘)

6 How does graohmg he dar neip to determne the nost efficient height for neat ng a l uld ill
b ak r

tfiO y gfltQ ‘ 1
411 rights r-c°red
 Experiment 2

Scientific Observations
Problem
What observations indicate that a chemical reaction has occurred? What is the difference between
simple physical mixing of ingredients and an actual chemical reaction?

Introduction
You may already feel that you are a good observer but there is more to good observation than
you
might think. Observing scientifically requires concentration, attention to detail, the effective use
of
measuring tools, ingenuity and patience. It also takes practice.

Before you come to lab, try making scientific observations at home. Find a candle and light it.
See
how many observations you can write down for the burning candle. Michael Faraday, a 19th century
chemist, found many such things to observe in a burning candle, in fact he wrote a book on the
subject and gave talks about it.

Compare the observations you made about your candle to those your teacher gives you in class.
Those observations that are descriptive are called qualitative. Observations that involve numer
ical
quantities are quantitative these are called measurements. Chemists often measure temper
—

ature,
time, mass, or volume.

Now you can practice your skills of scientific observation by watching what happens when severa
l
substances are mixed together.

Pretaboratory Assignment
3. Read the Introduction and Procedure befbre you begin.
4. Make observations of a burning candle. (Never leave a burning candle
unattended)
5. Answer the Prelaboratorv Questions.
1. Which of the following statements is not a scientific observation? For those that
are not observations, briefly explain why they are not.
a. The wire is 18 cm long.
hi The solution is bluegreen in color.
c. The reaction is producing a redbrown solid It must be rust.
d. The gas is being produced at a rate of 6.5 mL/second.
2. What distinguishes an observation from a conclusion?

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