born March 31, 1811, Göttingen, Westphalia
died Aug. 16, 1899, Heidelberg, Baden
German chemist.
With Gustav Robert Kirchhoff , he observed ( 0441; 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.