eli5: Why do cheap lighters have a divide in their fuel reserve?

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I recently got a science teaching job and had to buy a cheap see-through lighter to ignite the Bunsens, I don’t understand why the tank has to have two different compartments on the inside. You can tilt it and fill up one or the other, could someone explain why this is necessary instead of one big tank?

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18 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

The lighter is made out of flexible plastic, without the support in the middle, the plastic can flex and crack, letting the flammable fuel leak out (and maybe catch fire).

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