What is the purpose of boiling chips in a boiling flask?

Boiling chips serve a crucial role in laboratory procedures involving boiling liquids. Their primary purpose is to enhance the boiling process by preventing superheating of the liquid in the boiling flask. When a liquid is heated, it can sometimes reach temperatures above its boiling point without actually boiling, a phenomenon known as superheating. This can lead to abrupt and violent boiling when the liquid suddenly transitions to the gaseous phase, potentially causing spills or splashes.

By introducing boiling chips into the flask, the surface irregularities of these chips provide nucleation sites, which allow bubbles of vapor to form more readily. This results in a smoother and more controlled boiling process, minimizing the risk of spattering and ensuring safety during experiments. Thus, the function of boiling chips directly relates to controlling the conditions under which a liquid boils, particularly during digestion processes when thermal stability is vital.