When German chemist Robert Wilhelm Eberhard Bunsen (1811-1999) invented the Bunsen burner--a device used in almost every chemistry laboratory--he also opened the door to the analysis of matter via flame analysis, a technique now grouped with other procedures more commonly known as atomic emission spectroscopy (AES).

Working with Gustav Kirchhoff (1824-1887), Bunsen helped to establish the principles and techniques of spectroscopy. A distinguished scientist, Bunsen discovered the elements cesium and rubidium during a long and productive career. Using the techniques he pioneered, scientists have been able to determine the chemical composition of stars.

Bunsen examined the spectra—the colors of light—emitted when a substance was subjected to intense flame. When air is admitted at the base of a Bunsen burner, it mixes with the gas to produce a very hot flame at approximately 3,272°F (1,800°C). This temperature is sufficient to cause...