Metrology Glossary: Balance (Weight and Scale)

What Is A Balance?

A balance is an instrument employed for precisely gauging the weight or mass of an item. It comes in mechanical or electronic forms, with the degree of precision differing based on the specific kind of balance. Analytical balances, moisture balances, precision balances, and checkweighers represent distinct varieties of balances utilized in scientific and industrial applications.

What Are Balances Used For?

Scientific Research:

Analytical balances: These exceptionally accurate balances gauge mass down to the microgram (mcg) level, playing a crucial role in research laboratories for diverse purposes such as:

Precise measurement of chemicals for accurate analysis and experiments.
Determination of the molecular weight of compounds.
Quantification of minute amounts of materials in biological and environmental samples

Moisture balances: These instruments determine the moisture content in substances by subjecting the sample to heat and measuring weight loss through evaporation. Their applications span various fields, including:

Food science, where they determine the water content in foods.
Agriculture, facilitating the monitoring of moisture levels in grains and other crops.
Pharmaceutical industry use, ensuring the quality and uniformity of drugs.

Industrial Applications:

Precision balances: These balances, measuring mass at the milligram (mg) level, find utility in diverse industrial settings for:

Quality control of manufactured products.
Precise weighing of ingredients for recipes and formulations.
Accurate filling of containers with specific quantities of materials.

Checkweighers: Used to swiftly and precisely verify the weight of packaged goods, these balances play a pivotal role in ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and preventing product losses.