Bunsen

Bunsen, Christian Karl Josias, Freiherr von, 1791-1860, Prussian diplomat and scholar. He studied theology at the Univ. of Göttingen. He was a friend of King Frederick William IV and urged him to accept liberal ideas. Bunsen was minister to the papal court at Rome (1824-38) and ambassador to Bern (1839-41) and to London (1842-54), but he was recalled from London because he supported alliance with the Western powers in the Crimean War. A scholar of note, Bunsen wrote on religion, language, literature, history, and law.

Bunsen, Robert Wilhelm, 1811-99, German scientist, educated at the Univ. of Göttingen, where he received his doctorate in 1830. He served on the faculties of several universities and was at Heidelberg from 1852 to 1889. His first important contribution to chemistry came with his investigation of certain organic compounds of arsenic, in the process of which he discovered that ferric oxide could be used as an antidote to arsenic poisoning. From his studies of the gaseous products of blast furnaces he evolved a method of gas analysis, presented in his book Gasometrische Methoden (1857). With Kirchhoff at Heidelberg he discovered by spectroscopy the elements cesium and rubidium. Bunsen wrote many articles and collaborated with Kirchhoff on Chemische Analyse durch Spektralbeobachtungen (1860). His important contributions to petrology and chemicogeology include the explanation of geyser action. He invented and improved various kinds of laboratory equipment, including the Bunsen cell, the Bunsen photometer (see photometry), and the Bunsen burner.

(born March 31, 1811, Göttingen, Westphalia—died Aug. 16, 1899, Heidelberg, Baden) German chemist. With Gustav Robert Kirchhoff, he observed (circa 1859) that each element emits light of a characteristic wavelength, opening the field of spectrochemical analysis. They discovered several new elements (including helium, cesium, and rubidium) by spectroscopy. His only book discussed methods of measuring volumes of gases. He invented the carbon-zinc battery, grease-spot photometer (see photometry), filter pump, ice calorimeter, and vapour calorimeter. Though often credited with inventing the Bunsen burner, he seems to have made only a minor contribution to its development.

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(born March 31, 1811, Göttingen, Westphalia—died Aug. 16, 1899, Heidelberg, Baden) German chemist. With Gustav Robert Kirchhoff, he observed (circa 1859) that each element emits light of a characteristic wavelength, opening the field of spectrochemical analysis. They discovered several new elements (including helium, cesium, and rubidium) by spectroscopy. His only book discussed methods of measuring volumes of gases. He invented the carbon-zinc battery, grease-spot photometer (see photometry), filter pump, ice calorimeter, and vapour calorimeter. Though often credited with inventing the Bunsen burner, he seems to have made only a minor contribution to its development.

Learn more about Bunsen, Robert (Wilhelm) with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Bunsen may refer to:

• Christian Bunsen (1770–1837), chief librarian of Göttingen and professor of modern philology, father of Robert Bunsen
• Christian Charles Josias Bunsen (1791–1860), Prussian diplomat and scholar
• Frances Bunsen (1791-1876), or Baroness Bunsen, Welsh painter and author, wife of Christian Charles Josias Bunsen ..
• Robert Bunsen (1811-1899), German chemist, after whom is named:
• Bunsen burner
• Bunsen cell
• Bunsen crater on the moon
• 10361 Bunsen, an asteroid
• Bunsen Reaction
• The Bunsen-Kirchhoff Award, a German award for Spectroscopy
• Sir Maurice de Bunsen (1852-1932), British diplomat
• Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, fictional character from the Muppet Show