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National Bunsen Burner Day - March 31
Sun, Mar 31, 2024

National Bunsen Burner Day

National Bunsen Burner Day is an annual American holiday commemorating the invention of the Bunsen burner. This device is now available in any school laboratory. It is indispensable both in education and in actual scientific research. The holiday is celebrated on March 31.

History

There is no reliable information about the origin of National Bunsen Burner Day, but we know exactly when and under what circumstances the device was invented.

Robert Bunsen was born in 1811. As a student at the University of Göttingen, he devoted his energies to the study of natural sciences, especially chemistry. The father of the future great chemist also studied there, but learned the secrets of philology and worked as a librarian.

His knowledge of chemistry allowed him to create an antidote to arsenic already at the age of 22. Thanks to the discovery, it was possible to save many people who were poisoned by the substance.

In 1855, when Bunsen was already working at Heidelberg University, he invented his legendary burner. At that time, gas was often used to illuminate rooms. Often we had to use laboratory burners. However, the temperature of the flame was unnecessarily high and even dangerous if used inappropriately. The device developed solved these problems: depending on the incoming air flow, different types of flame were obtained, both in color and strength.

Interesting facts

  • In 1857, R. Bunsen published a description of his device, which made it possible to put it into mass production.
  • The burner flame usually comes in 4 colors: bright yellow, more red, purple, and greenish. It looks fascinating!
  • Thanks to the Bunsen burner, various tests and studies are carried out. It is used to determine boiling points, distillation, sample combustion, thermal decomposition, etc.

How to celebrate

Learn more about the Bunsen burner mechanism. What inventions later became available because of this device. Watch a video of using the burner.

Spread the word on social media. Ask users if they used the burners in high school/university?

When is National Bunsen Burner Day celebrated in 2024?

National Bunsen Burner Day is observed on March 31 each year.

Observations

Weekday Month Day Year
Sunday March 31 2024
Monday March 31 2025

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