How to use an Analytical Balance and Microbalance

The instructions in the video and below describe how to correctly use a laboratory balance. Following this method will prolong the working life of your laboratory balance and keep it weighing as accurately as possible. What not to do is also shown in order to demonstrate the risks of incorrectly weighing out your reagents.

Captions

Correct Method

1. Make sure your laboratory balance is level and stable.
2. Tare the balance with closed draft shields and make sure zero is stable.
3. Place the weighing boat/paper/vessel on the balance
4. Close the draft shields.
5. Tare the balance or record the weight of the weighing boat/paper/vessel.
6. Once tared and the zero is stable, remove the weighing paper.
7. With a spatula, add your desired reagent to the weighing paper.
8. Make sure your weighing paper has plenty of space for your desired reagent.
9. Carefully move the weighing paper with the desired reagent onto the center of the balance.
10. Close the draft shields and record the weight.

Incorrect Method

1. Weighing out your desired reagent directly onto the balance leads to spillages that will cause damage to your balance.
2. The balance will reduce in accuracy and impact future experiments.
3. Take particular care when working with corrosive or oxidative materials.

Analytical Balance

Buy now

Learn More

---