Electric Bunsen Burner LAB 2

Quick Answer: The Electric Bunsen Burner LAB 2 is a mains-powered bench heater used in place of a gas Bunsen burner. In the listing photo it is a white unit with a graduated front knob and two indicator lamps, topped by a perforated guard that surrounds a round heating grille.

LAB 2 Layout: Control Base and Guarded Heating Zone

An electric burner of this type keeps the name of the gas burner it replaces but works on a different principle. An electric element heats the space above the unit, and the vessel is held in that zone instead of in a flame. The LAB 2, as photographed, separates the two jobs clearly: the lower box carries the knob and lamps, and the upper section is a perforated white cage with a circular grille in its top face, which is where the heat comes out.

That cage matters in a classroom. Fingers, sleeves and loose paper cannot reach the element directly, yet a test tube or wire loop can still be lowered through the open top into the hot zone. Going by the photo, the graduated knob on the front is the heat control, which helps when students need to warm a liquid gently rather than bring it straight to the boil.

Compared with the LAB Microbiology electric Bunsen burner, which is photographed inside a tall green cage with a carrying handle for aseptic work, the LAB 2 is a squat, general bench model. It suits heating tubes and small evaporating dishes in chemistry and physics practicals; the microbiology version suits benches where the main task is sterilising loops beside open plates.

Where the LAB 2 Is Used

• Heating test tubes of liquid in lower-secondary chemistry, with the tube held in a holder above the grille
• Warming small evaporating dishes to concentrate a salt solution before crystallising
• Physics practicals such as heating a small beaker of water for a cooling-curve experiment
• Replacing gas burners in portable classrooms or labs where the gas supply has been disconnected

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Keep the perforations of the LAB 2 cage clear; covering them traps heat and can overheat the base.
• Hold vessels in the zone above the grille with tongs or a holder rather than resting glassware on the grille, unless the instructions allow it.
• Unplug the unit and let it cool completely before wiping the casing or storing it in a cupboard.
• Inspect the cable and plug before each session, and withdraw the unit from use if either is damaged.

Why Choose LabEquip

Science departments replacing gas taps, and colleges needing a few extra heating points for practical exams, are the typical buyers of a unit like this. LabEquip lists the LAB 2 among its chemistry lab equipment and can help plan a full class set through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does an electric Bunsen burner differ from a gas one?

A gas Bunsen burner heats with a flame whose shape and temperature are adjusted with the air hole. An electric Bunsen burner has no flame at all; an electric element heats the zone above the unit, and the heat is set with a control. No gas supply, tubing or lighter is needed.

Can students do flame tests on the LAB 2?

No. Flame tests depend on metal ions colouring a flame, and the LAB 2 produces no flame. Keep a gas Bunsen burner for flame tests and use the electric unit for ordinary heating.

Can a beaker be placed directly on the grille?

Follow the unit’s instructions. Burners of this kind are generally meant for vessels held in the heat zone rather than resting on the element, and a beaker sitting on a hot grille can crack or trap heat in the unit. A suitable stand or support is the usual answer for beakers.

Why is there a cage around the top?

The perforated cage keeps hands, sleeves and paper away from the element while leaving the top open for tubes and loops. It gets hot during use, so treat it as part of the heating zone and never as a handle.

Is it safe to leave the LAB 2 switched on between experiments?

It is better to switch it off when not in use. An electric burner has no visible flame to remind people it is on, so the indicator lamp is the only signal. Switching off between activities reduces burns and saves power.

Does the LAB 2 need any installation?

No fixed installation is needed beyond a suitable mains socket; the unit simply plugs in, which is why these burners suit rooms without gas pipework. If many units will run at once, have the room’s circuits checked for the combined load.

Last Updated: September 2026