The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
A very common instrument in most school and research laboratories, the Bunsen gas burner was first used by Robert Bunsen and Gustav Kirchhoff in their experiments with spectroscopy, a means of analyzing the elemental constituents of chemicals. Because of its ability to create a very hot and nearly invisible flame, the Bunsen burner was ideal for heating elements to incandescence; samples could be heated until they glowed, allowing Bunsen and Kirchhoff to observe the characteristic spectral pattern emitted by the element. Actually a modification of a device used by Michael Faraday, the Bunsen burner is essentially a metal tube into which a gas line is fed. At the base of the tube is a series of openings that allow air into the system. Because air is added prior to burning, the flame produces very little light and smoke. The height and heat of the flame are very easy to control, making it a useful tool for student scientists. Torches using a design similar to Bunsen's are often used for soldering.