Final answer:
An Erlenmeyer flask is used instead of other glassware during filtration of a cabbage solution primarily to prevent contamination due to its shape, which is designed to block environmental pollutants and bacteria from entering the solution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best reason for using an Erlenmeyer flask instead of another piece of glassware while filtering the cabbage solution is to prevent contamination. The curved design of the Erlenmeyer flask is instrumental in preventing bacteria and particles in the air from entering the main reservoir and contaminating the solution. During procedures where maintaining a sterile environment is necessary, such as filtration, an Erlenmeyer flask's narrow neck can effectively act as a barrier to environmental contaminants.
When conducting experiments with bacterial growth, like comparing the growth of 20-year-old and 100-year-old endospores in the presence of pollutants, ensuring a uncontaminated environment is crucial for accurate results. Thus, the use of an Erlenmeyer flask can be essential for experiments where the introduction of external bacteria or particles could skew the outcomes or where maintaining the purity of the solution is required.