What is Proper Weighing with Laboratory Balances ?
Weighing is one of the most common tasks in the laboratory. Advanced micro, semi-micro, analytical and precision balances have now been perfected to such a degree that, in general, no special weighing rooms are needed. Technological advances in electronics have considerably simplified the operation of balances, drastically cut weighing times, and made the balances so adaptable that they can now be integrated directly into a production process. The risk inherent in this progress, however, is that not enough care will be taken to prevent disturbing influences from the surrounding area. These usually involve physical effects which are measurable for micro, semi-micro and analytical balances, and which analytical balances cannot suppress because they result in measurable weight changes (e.g. through slow evaporation, moisture uptake), or forces which act on the weighing pan and weighing sample (e.g. magnetism, electrostatics) and which are interpreted by the balance as weight changes. The
