Original: Flasks can be used for making solutions or for holding , containing , collecting , or sometimes volumetrically measuring chemicals , samples , solutions , etc. for chemical reactions or other processes such as mixing , heating , cooling , dissolving , precipitation , boiling ( as in distillation ) , or analysis .
Simplified: Flasks can be used to make and hold solutions , to measure chemicals , and to contain chemical reactions like boiling , precipitation and analysis .