In the chemistry laboratory, students have to perform simple operations such as bending glass tubes, cutting glass tubes, and boring corks, as well as more complex processes such as qualitative and quantitative analysis of substances. Before initiating actual experiments, it is, therefore, necessary to gain a general understanding of such operations. Because most of these processes involve heat, knowledge of how to use a burner is required.

Bunsen burner:
The Bunsen burner is made up of the following components

• It has a cast iron base that keeps the burner in a stable upright position.
• A gas-inlet tube that fits horizontally into the base and is connected to the gas tap via a rubber tube.
• The Nipple is a brass rod with a fine pinhole drilled through it. The nipple is screwed into the base at its lower end. It carries the burner base at the top.
• The burner tube is a metallic tube with two opposing air holes near the bottom. It holds the air regulator and is screwed to the nipple.
• The air-adjusting disc is a metallic ring that fits loosely at the bottom of the burner tube. It has two holes corresponding to the two air holes in the burner tube. It can be rotated to control the amount of air that enters the burner tube by partially or entirely closing the air holes.

The gas tap is connected to the rubber tubing, and the burner is turned on. As the gas escapes through the nipple, the pressure drops, allowing air to enter through the air holes. A flame burns at the top of the mixture of air and combustible gas. The flame can be luminous or non-luminous depending on the amount of air mixed.

Glass tube:
The glass tubes are hollow pieces of borosilicate glass used primarily as laboratory glassware. It is commercially available in various lengths and thicknesses and is frequently attached to rubber stoppers.

Although modifying a glass tube is an essential laboratory technique, a glass cutter is used to break a long glass tube into small pieces. Freshly cut glass tubes are flame polished before use to remove the rough edge. Glass tubes can be bent by heating evenly over a Bunsen burner.

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