Bunsen Burners & Lab Burners

A bunsen burner needs a bench gas line, while a portable stove runs on a self-contained fuel cartridge for use away from a gas tap.

A hot blue flame suits sterilising and flame tests, while a spirit lamp's gentler flame suits slower, more controlled heating.

A benchtop sterilizer heats an inoculating loop quickly and consistently, without needing an open flame at all.

Any open flame needs a clear, ventilated workspace away from flammable materials, regardless of which burner type you choose.

A yellow flame means the air vent is closed or restricted. Opening it lets more air mix with the gas, producing a hotter, cleaner blue flame.

Only in a well-ventilated space, since portable stoves burn a sealed fuel cartridge and produce combustion gases just like any other open flame.

No, a spirit lamp burns cooler and more gently, making it better suited to slow, controlled heating rather than rapid or high-temperature work.

A sterilizer is a small chamber for flaming inoculating loops and similar small tools quickly between uses, not a full autoclave for sterilising bulk equipment or media.

Push the hose firmly onto the burner's barb fitting and the bench gas tap, checking for a secure, leak-free connection before lighting.