What is Bunsen Burner Day?

Bunsen Burner Day is a holiday that commemorates the date of birth of the inventor of the Bunsen Burner. While not enjoying the status of being considered a major holiday in any country or group of countries, Bunsen Burner Day has been observed for a number of years. The holiday occurs on the same calendar date each year, and is often recognized by persons with a strong interest in chemistry and science in general. Celebrated on 31 March of each year Bunsen Burner Day is the celebration of the German chemist Robert Wilhelm Eberhard von Bunsen. Born in 1811, van Bunsen is the generally acknowledged inventor of Bunsen Burners. While there are some historians of the development of chemistry that maintain von Bunsen was not the creator but rather a refiner of the device, there is general agreement that the devices used in chemistry labs and classrooms around the world today is the work of von Bunsen. The Bunsen Burner itself is a very simple device, consisting of a long hollow tube. A ...  more