How to use a Bunsen Burner safely

The Bunsen burner is used in laboratories to heat things.  It is named after Robert Bunsen. In order to use it safely and appropriately, it is important to know the correct steps on how to set it up and operate it.  A Bunsen burner can produce 2 different types of flames:

• The "coolest" flame is a yellow / orange color.  It is never used to heat anything, only to show that the Bunsen burner is on.  It is called the luminous flame.
• The non-luminous flame is difficult to see in a well-lit room.  It is the most commonly used flame.

This is how to light a Bunsen Burner:

1. Check for safety - lab coat on, long hair tied back, safety glasses on, books and papers away from the flame, apparatus set up not too close to the edge of the table...
   
2. Look at the holes.  Check that the holes are closed.  The holes can be adjusted to let in more or less air by turning the collar
3. Light the Bunsen burner. Turn on the gas tap and press the igniter.  To turn the gas tap on, you must first push down, then turn the tap. This is a safety feature so the taps are not accidentally pushed open. The Bunsen burner should light after pressing the igniter a few times.
4. Adjust the flame by turning the collar so that you have the appropriate flame for the experiment ( the non-luminous flame). 
5. During the experiment, stay vigilant so that if a problem occurs, you are ready to turn off the flame quickly.  This means that you should not leave your table unattended.