• Question: Why do we use methene in bunsen burners? :)

    Asked by xxxmaisybxxx to Clare, Divya, Ian, Jess, Lewis on 17 Mar 2014.
    • Photo: Lewis Dean

      Lewis Dean answered on 17 Mar 2014:

      Methane is used as domestic gas, so gets used in bunsen burners as well. It burns well and is a gas at room temperature, which makes it good for piping into peoples houses.

    • Photo: Ian Hands-Portman

      Ian Hands-Portman answered on 17 Mar 2014:

      Back in the old days it would have been coal gas made by heating coal without air or water gas made by blasting steam over red hot carbon – both are a mix of hydrogen and carbon monoxide but natural gas these days is convenient, cheaper and doesn’t give people carbon monoxide poisoning when it leaks.

    • Photo: Clare Nevin

      Clare Nevin answered on 17 Mar 2014:

      I remember the orange flame from a methane Bunsen burner being completely safe so I guess that’s why they use them in classes.

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