<P> The tapered sides and narrow neck of this flask allow the contents of the flask to be mixed by swirling, without risk of spillage, making them suitable for titrations by placing it under the buret and adding solvent and the indicator in Erlenmeyer flask . Such features similarly make the flask suitable for boiling liquids . Hot vapors condense on the upper section of the Erlenmeyer flask, reducing solvent loss . Erlenmeyer flasks' narrow necks can also support filter funnels . </P> <P> The last two attributes of Erlenmeyer flasks make them especially appropriate for recrystallization . The sample to be purified is heated to a boil, and sufficient solvent is added for complete dissolution . The receiving flask is filled with a small amount of solvent, and heated to a boil . The hot solution is filtered through a fluted filter paper into the receiving flask . Hot vapors from the boiling solvent keep the filter funnel warm, avoiding the premature crystallization . </P> <P> Like beakers, Erlenmeyer flasks are not normally suitable for accurate volumetric measurements . Their stamped volumes are approximate within about 5% accuracy . </P> <P> Erlenmeyer flasks are also used in microbiology for the preparation of microbial cultures . Erlenmeyer flasks used in cell culture are sterilized and may feature vented closures to enhance gas exchange during incubation and shaking . The use of minimal liquid volumes, typically no more than one fifth of the total flask volume, and baffles molded into the flask's internal surface both serve to maximize gas transfer and promote chaotic mixing when the flasks are orbitally shaken . The oxygen transfer rate in Erlenmeyer flasks depends on the agitation speed, the liquid volume, and the shake - flask design . The shaking frequency has the most significant impact on oxygen transfer . </P>

When should you use a beaker or a erlenmeyer flask