Balance

Noor Ullah
[email protected]

12/03/2022 1
Analytical or Lab Balance

• An analytical balance (often called a "lab balance") is a class of balance designed

to measure small mass in the sub-milligram range (0.01 or 0.1 mg).

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Types of balance

• Micro balance: Balance with a

resolution of 1 microgram

• Semi Micro Balance: Balance with a

resolution of 10 microgram

• Ultra (super) Micro balance: Balance

with a resolution of 0.1 microgram

• Top load balance: 1.0- 2.0 kg

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Terms related to balance

• Resolution: The smallest change in mass which can be detect by the balance

• Sensitivity: This is a measure of the ability of the balance to detect changes in the load
applied to it

• Response time: Time taken for the weighing instrument to indicate the value of a change
in load

• Stability: A measure of the time for which the reading on the balance remains unchanged

• Departure From Nominal Value: The amount by which the reading on an instrument
depart from its nominal value

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Terms related to balance

• Standby: Operating state of an electronic instrument where one part is switched

off for energy saving reasons

• Correction: True value – Reading

• Error: Reading- True value

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Weight Measurements
• Analytical Balance (principal of operation):
• Sample on balance pushes the pan down with a
force equal to m x g
• M is mass of object
• g is acceleration of gravity
• Balance pan with equal and opposing mass
• Mechanical – standard masses
• Electronic – opposing electromagnetic force
• Tare: mass of empty vessel (pan) l1 l2

• Double-pan balance:
• Balance beam suspended on a sharp knife edge
• Standard weights are added to the second pan
m1 m2
to balance sample weight
• Weight of sample is equal to the total weight of m m
standards
m1l1 = m2l2
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 Weight Measurements
• The single pan balance employs a
hidden counterweight with a different
fulcrum length.
• This counterweight is fixed.
a) balance beam suspended on a sharp
knife edge
b) Sample pan is balanced by
counterweights on right
c) Knob adjusted to remove weights
from a bar above the pan
d) Pan is moved back to its original
position and the removed weights
equals the mass of the sample.
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Weight Measurements
• Electronic balance does not directly
measure mass.
• Instead it measures the force that acts
downward on the pan.
• This force is converted to an electrical
signal and displayed on a digital display.
• As a means of measuring force, the
electromagnetic balance method
utilizes the electromagnetic force
generated from a magnet and coil,
whereas the electrical resistance wire
method utilizes the change in
resistance value of a strain gauge
attached to a piece of metal that bends
in response to a force.
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Weight Measurements
• Methods of Weighing:
I. Basic operational rules
• Chemicals should never be placed directly on the weighing pan
- corrode and damage the pan may affect accuracy
- - not able to recover all of the sample
• Balance should be in arrested position when load/unload pan
• Half-arrested position when dialing weights
- dull knife edge and decrease balance sensitivity  accuracy
II. Weight by difference:
• Useful for samples that change weight upon exposure to the atmosphere
- hygroscopic samples (readily absorb water from the air)
• Weight of sample = ( weight of sample + weight of container) – weight of container
(iii) Taring:
• Done on many modern electronic balances
• Container is set on balance before sample is added
• Container’s weight is set automatically to read “0”

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 1. Ensure that the instrument is clean and free from dust
with smooth brush (or) lint free duster
2. Silica gel should kept inside the balance chamber
3. Adjusting the bubble at the center
4. Before using ensure that the balance is calibrated
5. While weighing any sample use butter paper &
spatula
6. Carefully remove any sample residue / spilled
powder
7. Take special care during weighing of liquids
8. Before closure ensure that the pan is empty

Don’t use ….A4 / A3 papers

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 Analytical Balance
Daily with standard weight box
Monthly with standard weight box

Micro balance
Daily & Monthly with standard weight box

Top load balance

Weakly with standard weight box

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 Daily with secondary standard weight box
Daily calibration :
Acceptance criteria of
S No Nominal weight
actual weight
1 1g ± 1mg
2 10g ± 2mg
3 100g ± 20mg
Analytical Balance 4 100mg ± 0.1mg
100mg – 100g 5 10mg ± 0.01mg
Drift check: check with 20g
weight Calculation formula W1-W2
W1: before day drift check 20g weight
W2: present day drift check 20g
weight The limit is not more than ±
0.0002g
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 Monthly with Primary standard weight box
Monthly calibration :

1. self-calibration
2.Calibration with External Calibration standard weights

Acceptance criteria
S No Nominal weight
of actual weight
1 100g ± 20mg
2 50g ± 20mg
3 20g ± 10mg
4 10g ± 2mg
Analytical Balance 5 5g ± 2mg
100mg – 100g 6 2g ± 1mg
7 1g ± 1mg
8 500mg ± 0.5mg
9 200mg ± 0.2mg
10 100mg ± 0.1mg
11 50mg ± 0.05mg
12 20mg ± 0.02mg
12/03/2022 13 10mg ± 0.01mg 13
 Daily with Primary standard weight box
Daily calibration :
Acceptance criteria of
S No Nominal weight
actual weight
1 20 g ± 10mg
2 1g ± 1mg
3 100mg ± 0.1mg
Micro balance 4 50mg ± 0.05mg
2.0 mg – 20.0g 5 2mg ± 0.002mg
Drift check: check with 1g
weight Calculation formula W1-
W2
W1: before day drift check 1g weight
W2: present day drift check 1g weight
The limit is not more than ± 0.0001g
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 Weekly with Primary standard weight box

Weekly calibration :

Top load balance

1.0 g – 2.0 kg Actual value Observed reading Acceptance criteria
Nominal of actual weight
weight
400.000350 400.00 ± 0.02g
400g
200g 200.000170 200.00 ± 0.02g
50g 50.000050 49.99 ± 0.02g
20g 20.000021 19.99 ± 0.01g
5g 4.999998 4.99 ± 0.01g
1g 1.000016 1.00 ± 0.01g

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 Primary weight box :
S No Mass Value of Observed Value
Nominal weight (B)
1 the Error 'E' (A-B)
weight (A) 99.99968
100g 0.00041
100.00009g
2 20g 19.99994
20.000021g 0.000081
3 10g 9.99993
10.000019g 0.000089
4 1g 1.00003 -
Secondary weight box :
1.000016g 0.000014
5 100mg 100.00 Tolerance Limit
S No 100.005g
Nominal weight Mass Value Acceptance
0.005
6 10mg criteria10.00 Upper Limit Lower Limit
10.002g 0.002
1 100g 99.999910 ± 20mg 100.01991 99.97991
2 20g 20.000041 ± 10mg 20.010041 19.990041
3 10g 10.000029 ± 2mg 10.002029 9.998029
4 1g 1.000036 ± 1mg 1.001036 0.999036
5 100mg 100.005 ± 0.1mg 100.105 99.905
12/03/2022 6 10mg 10.002 ± 0.01mg 10.012 9.992 16
  Store the weight box in dust free area

 Handling the weights use a forceps

 Use certified weights only, before use

check for the validity of usage

forceps

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 The Analytical Balance location on a solid bench that is
AVT (anti vibration table)

The precision and reproducibility of weighing results

is closely associated with the location of the balance.

Stable anti vibration table-has affect on balance for

measurement 0.01g or less.

Doesn't locate AVT corner of the room-room

access through a sliding door.

Location free from air should not be near ovens,

furnaces.

The Analytical Balance Room must be temperature and

humidity controlled.
humidity range 45 - 60% Operate
humidity range <20 – 80<% Never operate

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 The balance should not be installed near sources of
electromagnetic radiation such as radio frequency generators,
electric motors, hand held communication devices (including
card less telephones and cell phones)

The balance should not be adjacent to equipment producing a

magnetic field(a magnetic stirrer)

Low humidity increases buildup of static electricity.

Never disconnect the balance from the power supply and

leave it always switched on / STAND BY mode.

If “OFF” mode: warm-up for 1 hour

after switching ‘ON’ the power supply

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