Analytical Balance

Content
1. What is analytical balance?
    1.1 Analytical balance range
    1.2 Laboratory balances and scales
    1.3 Weight balance in lab
2. Types of analytical balance
    2.1 Top pan weighing balance
    2.2 Single pan analytical balance Vs. double pan analytical balance
    2.3 Electrical weighing balance
3. Analytical balance diagram
    3.1 Parts of analytical balance
    3.2 Analytical balance model
4. Principle of analytical balance
    4.1 Calibrating analytical balance
5. Analytical balance function
6. How to use analytical balance
7. How to buy analytical balance?

A class of balance designed to measure a small mass in the sub-milligram range is called analytical balance, analytical scales, or chemical analytical balance. The measuring pan of an analytical balance is inside a transparent enclosure with doors so that the balance's operation is not influenced by any air currents in the room and any dust pollution. This transparent enclosure is often called a draft shield. The draft shield allows a smooth turbulence-free airflow that prevents balance fluctuation and the measure of mass down to 1 μg without fluctuations or loss of product. Meanwhile, the sample must be at room temperature to prevent natural convection from forming air currents inside the enclosure which may cause an error in the reading.

There are many digital balances for laboratory. When a weight is applied to a digital balance, an electronic circuit generates an electric current that is then converted into a digital reading displayed on a monitor. Analytical balances are nearly the highest accuracy level of all digital lab balances at present.

Analytical balances are extremely sensitive laboratory tools that were developed to correctly measure small masses in the laboratory.

The readability of an Analytical balance typically ranges from 0.1mg to 0.01mg.

The analytical weighing balance is meant to sense very fine additions. The slightest vibrations or breeze may have a great impact on the final results, so a draft shield is good to avoid any influent factors. It is better to utilize analytical balance precision in a good room where there are no disturbances that occur and should be placed on a flat vibration-free surface. The analytical balance in laboratory requires to be used carefully as well as frequent calibrations in order to get precise results. Generally, most analytical weighing machines have both involuntary internal power-driven calibrations as well as capacity with external weights.

A scale, as well as a balance, is a measuring instrument used for determining the weight or mass of an object as well as a balance. Scale and balance have significant differences from each other. The laboratory weighing scale greatly differs from the laboratory weighing balance. The biggest difference to remember between them is that a balance is used to measure mass whereas a scale is used to measure weight.

As the most important instrument about scientific scales for weighing in the lab, laboratory analytical balance can be mainly divided into mechanical and electronic classes. Mechanical analytical balance, because of its lever weighing principle, is also called lever balance. The electromagnetic force balance is the weighing principle of electronic analytical balance.

A balance without a draft shield is called top loading analytical balance. Samples are put directly onto the weighing pan. Typically, the top loading weighing balance has a readability of 1 mg or less. This readability range lets top pan balance accuracy enough to be put into a class of precision balances. The electronic top pan balance is widely used in different labs.

Single pan analytical balance is a class of lab balance that is designed to measure mass with precision. Double pan analytical balance is a scale with 2 pans that are balanced against each other. Compared with the double one, the single one has the advantages of constant sensing, no equal arm error, and fast weighing speed.

Analytical balance machines are a very useful device for the precise measurements of samples in small quantities. Nowadays, electronic weighing machines for laboratory is frequently used in laboratories. Electronic balances commonly have a superior capacity to traditional analytical balances. As mentioned, the range of an analytical balance is from 0.1mg to 0.01mg while an electronic balance for laboratory can measure up to 3 or 4 decimal places.

According to different accuracy, electronic analytical balance is subdivided into regular electronic balance, semi micro analytical balance, micro analytical balance, ultra-micro balance, and electronic precision balance.

Knowing the parts of an analytical balance is an important step that must be taken before using such an instrument. By using appropriately, the service time of a lab analytical balance can be extended.

There are different kinds of chemistry analytical balances on the market. An analytical balance usually includes components like the balance main body, draft shield, weighing pans, level indicator, adjustable feet, communications interface, calibration weight, power cord, and other accessories.

The traditional lab balance works on the principle of leverage. There is a fulcrum in the middle of the beam of the balance and two weighing pans at each side for placing objects and weights separately. The lever is balanced if the masses of both sides are equal. When the two sides are not equal, add or subtract the weight in the right plate until the pointer points straight to the center line. The total mass of the weights is equal to the mass of the object being measured. Mechanical analytical balance follows this working principle but electrical balance in laboratory does not. Most electronic analytical balances adopt the electromagnetic balance method and need to be calibrated to eliminate the influence of gravity acceleration.

Due to the influence of magnetic fields, the acceleration of gravity varies from location to location across the globe. The factors like the acceleration of gravity, ambient temperature, and humidity at the installation site, barometric pressure, altitude, etc., affect the performance of analytical balances. The accuracy of weighing balance will affect the result of weighing, so calibrating analytical balance is very necessary. Analytical balance calibration can be external calibration (manual efforts) and internal calibration (auto button).

An analytical weighing balance is a basic tool in all quantitative analyses. The device is critical for differential weighing, pipette calibration, percent weighing, filling, density determination, parts counting, animal weighing, check weighing, gross-net-tare weighing, etc. An analytical balance provides accurate readings in different industries like educational, research, pharmaceutical, chemical, industrial, food, and beverage or quality control applications as well as the applications of preparation of standards, formulation, interval weighing, routine testing of micropipettes, preparation of the sample, etc. The balance in science lab with higher capacity is not only used in laboratories but can be used to test larger high-capacity weighing materials such as in construction sites.

First, prepare the balance for use. To make sure that analytical balance is leveled and zeroed before weighing anything on that. To check the balance leveling and look at the leveling bubble on the floor of the weighing chamber. If it is not centered, turn the leveling screws on the bottom toward the back of the balance to center it. Once the analytical balance scale is leveled, close all the chamber doors and press the control bar on the front of the analytical balance. A row of zeros will appear after a few seconds which means the balance is zeroed and ready for use.

An analytical balance can be applied for weighing a liquid, powder, or granular substance as well as weighing a solid object directly on the balance.

When weighing a liquid, powder, or granular substance, they must always be weighed using an appropriate weighing container. When operating, you should place the weighing container on the balance pan and close the doors. Taring weighing balance is the basis. The container should tare by briefly pressing the control bar and the readout will read zero with the container sitting on the pan which allows the mass of your sample to be read directly.

Be careful not to spill chemicals on the balance when weighing. When needed, you can take out the container from the weighing chamber while you add the sample but make sure that no one presses the control bar before you weigh your sample. With the sample and its container sitting on the pan, close the chamber doors and read the display to find the mass of your sample. Put the sample and its container inside the pan, close the chamber doors and read the display to record the mass data of your sample.

When weighting a solid object, you can put it directly on the pan without any container. Be sure the balance is tared to zero. You should open the chamber doors and carefully place the object on the balance pan. Then, you should close the doors, read and record the mass of your object.

Finally, when you are done with the analytical balance, please make sure you have properly cleaned up any chemicals that may have spilled on the balance. The balance can be turned off by lifting up gently on the control bar when it shuts down.

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