Analytical Balance

Analytical balance and their precautions on using

analytical balance
Analytical balance

 Weighing is a required part of almost any analysis, both for

measuring the sample and for preparing standard solutions.
 In laboratory we deal with rather small weights, in the
order of grams to a few milligrams or less. Standard
laboratory weighing is typically made to three or four
significant figures, and so the weighing device must be both
precise and accurate.
 Most analytical balances used today are electronic
balances.
Analytical balance

 The weight of an object is the force of attraction due to

gravity which is exerted upon the object. This force will
differ at different locations on the earth.
 Mass, on the other hand is the quantity of matter of which
the object is composed and invariant.
 We usually deal with masses rather than weights.
Analytical balance

 Analytical balances are instruments used for precise

determining mass of matter.
 Analytical balances are designed for great precision in
quantitative chemical analysis.
 They yield readability to four decimal places to the right
of the decimal point
(up to .0001 g).
Analytical balance

 They are extremely sensitive and since air currents can

affect their measurement, must be covered by a draft
shield. They are used for samples up to about 320 g.

 It requires mains electricity or battery supplied power.

Types of Electronic balances
Macro balance
 A relatively large type of analytical
balance that can determine mass of 160
g to 200 g with a precision of o.1 gram.

Semi microbalance

 A type of analytical balance that can

determine mass up to 220 g with a
readability of 0.01 milligram.
 Micro balance
 A microbalance is a tool used in laboratories and in scientific research
with the capacity to make accurate measurements of the weight of
very small objects.
 The microbalance is sensitive to about 0.001 mg (1μg).
 The quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) are incredibly sensitive and can
weigh samples of as little as 0.1 µg. They are the kind that is often
used in life science experiments.
 The tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM), which is used
for real-time detection of aerosol particles.
 Finally, there is the semi-micro balance, which has a readability
of 0.01mg (10µg), and is, therefore, less sensitive than the
standard microbalance.
Weighing errors

 An analytical balance should be located on a heavy table,

such as a marble slab, to minimize vibrations.
 Before weighing anything on the analytical balance you
must make sure that it is leveled and zeroed.
 To check the leveling on the balance, look at the leveling
bubble on the floor of the weighing chamber. If it is not
centered, center it by turning the levelling screws on the
bottom toward the back of the balance.
Weighing errors

 Once the balance is levelled, close all the chamber doors

and press the control bar on the front of the balance. After
a few seconds, a row of zeros will appear. This indicates
that the balance is zeroed and ready for use.
 Place the weighing container on the balance pan and close
the doors.
 Tare the container by briefly pressing the control bar. The
readout will read zero with the container sitting on the pan.
This allows the mass of your sample to be read directly.
Weighing errors

 Add the substance to be weighed. Be careful not to spill

chemicals on the balance. Close the chamber doors and
read the display to find the mass of your sample.
 If the object you need to weigh is a solid object, you can
weigh it directly on the pan.
 Be sure the balance is zeroed. Open the chamber doors,
carefully place the object on the balance pan, close the
doors, and read the display to find the mass of your
object.
Weighing errors

 Keep the object to be weighed close to the center of the pan.

 Samples must be at ambient temperature to prevent errors
due to convective air currents.
 A sample that has been dried in an oven takes about 30 min
to cool to room temperature. Place the sample in a desiccator
during cooling to prevent accumulation of moisture.
 Close the glass doors of the balance to prevent drafts from
affecting the reading.
Precautions on using analytical balances

 Never exceed the stated maximum load of the balance.

 The balance must be kept clean. Remove dust from the pan and
from the floor of the pan compartment with a camel hair brush.
 Objects to be weighed should never be handled with the fingers;
always use tongs or a loop of clean paper.
 Objects to be weighed should be allowed to attain the
temperature of the balance before weighing, and if the object has
been heated, sufficient time must be allowed for cooling. The
time required to attain the temperature of the balance varies with
the size of the object, but as a rule 30-40 minutes is sufficient.
Precautions on using analytical balances

 No chemicals or objects which might injure the balance pan should

ever be placed directly on it.
 Liquids and volatile or hygroscopic solids must be weighed in
tightly closed vessels, such as stoppered weighing bottles.
 The addition of chemicals to the receptacle must be done outside
the balance case. It is good practice to weigh the chosen
receptacle on the analytical balance, to transfer it to a rough
balance, to add approximately the required amount of the
necessary chemical, and then to return the receptacle to the
analytical balance for re-weighing, thus giving the exact weight of
substance taken.
Precautions on using analytical balances

 Nothing must be left on the pan when the weighing has been
completed. If any substance is spilled accidentally upon the
pan or upon the floor of the balance compartment, it must
be removed at once.
 Exposure of the balance to corrosive atmospheres must be
avoided. Brush the balance pan lightly with a camel hair
brush to remove any dust.
 When all weighings have been completed, remove the object
which has been weighed, clear up any accidental spillages,
and close the pan compartment.