Why are boiling chips added to the distillation flask?

Boiling chips should be placed in the distillation flask for two reasons: they will prevent superheating of the liquid being distilled and they will cause a more controlled boil, eliminating the possibility that the liquid in the distillation flask will bump into the condenser.

adding a(n) to an electric circuit would increase the magnetic field around a wire;

b. solenoid

a solenoid is a type of electromagnet whose purpose is to generate a controlled magnetic field.

if the purpose of the solenoid is instead to impede changes in the electric current, a solenoid can be more specifically classified as an inductor rather than an electromagnet.