Final answer:
A vial is a small container for holding liquid chemical samples, which can be made of glass or plastic. Graduated glassware like burettes and cylinders deliver variable volumes, while volumetric glassware like pipettes and flasks deliver or contain precise single volumes.
Step-by-step explanation:
A vial is a small container typically used in a laboratory setting for holding liquid samples, typically used for storing, mixing, or transporting chemicals. The content of a vial may vary widely but often contains chemical solutions or samples for analysis. Vials can be supplied as part of a kit or separately, and they come in various sizes and materials, usually glass or plastic. Regarding medication, a vial might contain a liquid drug that can be removed by syringe for injection or administered using a dropper or pipette, depending on the required dosage and the nature of the medication.
Graduated glassware, such as burettes and graduated cylinders, is designed to deliver variable volumes of liquid with precision. In contrast, volumetric glassware, like pipettes and volumetric flasks, is intended to deliver or contain a single volume accurately.
Specifically, a buret is calibrated to deliver precise volumes of liquid by allowing the liquid to flow out through a valve at the bottom. A graduated cylinder is a cylindrical piece of glassware with measurement markings along its length, which provides a way to measure and transfer variable amounts of liquid. A pipette is also a precise instrument used to transfer a measured volume of liquid, available in several types, some of which can be set to measure different volumes. Lastly, a volumetric flask is designed for making up solutions to a known volume; it has a specific volume marking that signifies its accurate fill line.