LABORATORY SKILLS TRAINING

TITLE: PROPER USE AND CARE OF AN ELECTRONIC BALANCE

PURPOSE: The purpose of this Skills Training is to train the student in the
proper way to use an electronic balance scale for measuring the
mass of matter in the laboratory and develop good laboratory
practices.

PREREQUISITES: N/A

REFERENCES:

SAFETY EQUIPMENT: Gloves and safety glasses

MATERIALS: Electronic balance (top loader or analytical)

Plastic weighing boat, weighing paper, or weighing vessel
Substance to weigh
Cleaning brush
Spatula or scoop

PROCEDURE: Proper use and care of an electronic balance.

1. PREPARE THE BALANCE FOR USE

 Choose the appropriate balance for the amount of material you to need to
measure. Record the name or ID number of the balance and the precision of that
instrument in your lab notebook.
o The more accurate instrument reads to more place values beyond the
decimal. The most accurate balances in Stafford are the 4-place Analytical
balances, the least accurate are the 1-place top loader balances.
o Do not exceed the limit of precision of the instrument. This is a major
reason for error in measurement.
 Make sure the weighing pan is free of particles.
o If the balance pan has particles on it, take the balance brush and gently
clean off the pan and the inside of the balance by brushing the particles out
onto a piece of paper towel. You do not know the composition of the
particles, so always use extreme caution and assume it is toxic.

CCCLST0040 Approved: 5Aug2014 Revision:

 o If the balance pan or inside of the balance is caked with solid or liquid,
notify the lab instructor for cleaning. Do not wet the pan or inside area of
the balance.
 Locate the leveling bubble and make sure the bubble is within the circular region
to assure it is level.
o If the bubble is outside the circular area, adjust the 4-leveling screws at the
bottom of the balance by screwing or unscrewing them until the bubble is
centered.
 Turn on the balance by pushing the on/off button down with the doors closed.
 Push the on button down again to tare (zero) the balance. Make sure the weight
displayed reads zero.

2. MEASURING THE MASS OF A SUBSTANCE

 Place the weighing vessel, weigh boat, or weighing paper on the balance pan and
close the door.
o If using weighing paper fold the paper in half and then half again to make
a ‘boat’.
o If weighing by difference, record the mass of the weighing vessel in your
lab notebook. (Never write values on scrap paper.)
o If weighing directly, tare the balance so the display reads zero.
 Using a spatula or sampling tool, transfer the substance being measured on to the
balance pan, then close the door.
 Record the mass of the object as displayed into your lab notebook.
o If weighing by difference, subtract the mass of the weighing vessel from
the mass of the substance and weighing vessel to determine the weight of
the substance.
o If weighing direct, record the mass of the substance.

3. CLEAN UP PROPERLY
 Make sure you leave the pan and inside of the balance free of particles. Brush to
clean as describe above.
 Close the doors on the balance.
 Zero the balance.

4. FINAL COMMENTS
 Static electricity will affect the stability of the balance and may cause the errors.
 Notify your instructor if the balance is not working properly.

TRAINING ASSESSMENT: The laboratory technician is considered skills trained in

proper use of a balance when they have successfully
completed the training assessment.
1. Receive 95% on all electronic balance assessments.

DOCUMENTATION: Evaluations recorded in Skills Training Assessment Log

placed in the laboratory notebook.

CCCLST0040 Approved: 5Aug2014 Revision:

DOCUMENTATION OF SKILLS TRAINING:

Student Name: ________________________ Date: __________________________

Approved By: _________________________ Date: __________________________

CCC Science Department Instructor

CCCLST0040 Approved: 5Aug2014 Revision: