Alcohol burner

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Aluminum alcohol burner.jpg
An aluminium alcohol burner
Alcohol burner1.jpg
A glass alcohol burner

An alcohol burner or spirit lamp is a piece of laboratory equipment used to produce an open flame. It can be made from brass, glass, stainless steel or aluminium. [1]

Contents

Uses

Alcohol burners are preferred for some uses over Bunsen burners for safety purposes, and in laboratories where natural gas is not available. Their flame is limited to approximately 5 centimeters (two inches) in height, with a comparatively lower temperature than the gas flame of the Bunsen burner. [2] [3]

While they do not produce flames as hot as other types of burners, they are sufficiently hot for performing some chemistries, standard microbiology laboratory procedures, and can be used for flame sterilization of other laboratory equipment. [4] [5]

Trangia Spirit Burner 8999.jpg
typical parts for camping alcohol burner
Trangia-burner.jpg
camping alcohol burner in action

A small alcohol burner is also preferred for camping when the need for fire is modest. It burns the alcohol vapor that raises due to the heat from the flame through the holes on the top perimeter of the container.

Operation

The burner's flame is capped like a candle to extinguish it. Capping.jpg
The burner's flame is capped like a candle to extinguish it.
A small amount of liquid is boiling above the alcohol burner. Glass alcohol burner.jpg
A small amount of liquid is boiling above the alcohol burner.

Typical fuel is denatured alcohol, methanol, or isopropanol. [2] [3] A cap is used as a snuffer for extinguishing the flame.

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teclu burner</span> Variant of the Bunsen burner

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luminous flame</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Splint (laboratory equipment)</span>

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Many laboratories contain significant risks, and the prevention of laboratory accidents requires great care and constant vigilance. Examples of risk factors include high voltages, high and low pressures and temperatures, corrosive and toxic chemicals and chemical vapours, radiation, fire, explosions, and biohazards including infective organisms and their toxins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inoculation needle</span>

An inoculation needle is a laboratory equipment used in the field of microbiology to transfer and inoculate living microorganisms. It is one of the most commonly implicated biological laboratory tools and can be disposable or re-usable. A standard reusable inoculation needle is made from nichrome or platinum wire affixed to a metallic handle. A disposable inoculation needle is often made from plastic resin. The base of the needle is dulled, resulting in a blunted end.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cell spreader</span>

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References

  1. Griffin, John Joseph (1838). Chemical Recreations: A Compendium of Experimental Chemistry, Part 1 (8th ed.). Glasgow: Richard Griffin and Co. pp. 17–21.
  2. 1 2 "Laboratory Burner Safety" (PDF). safety.ucanr.edu. University of California. 2007. Retrieved 2015-06-17.
  3. 1 2 Braham, R (2002). "Standard Operating Procedure - Safe Use of Alcohol Burner" (PDF). ovc.uoguelph.ca. Department of Biomedical Sciences of Ontario Veterinary College . Retrieved 2015-06-17.
  4. "Low-tech Microbiology Tools". teach.genetics.utah.edu. Archived from the original on 2015-06-27. Retrieved 2015-06-26.
  5. Myers, D. N.; Sylvester, M. A. (1997). "7.1.1. Equipment and Equipment Sterilization Procedures" (PDF). National field manual for the collection of water-quality data. Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, book 9. USGS.