Weighing the Right Way with Laboratory Balances

Modern laboratory balances enable you to perform weighing tasks quickly and efficiently. Intelligent software and multiple helpful features simplify your daily work. Nevertheless, it is important to be aware of the common ways in which inaccuracies in your weighing results can occur:

• The influence of external factors (e.g., airflow, magnetism, electrostatic forces)
• Misinterpreting sample characteristics for external influences
• Improper operation of the balance
• Choosing an inappropriate location for the balance
• Incorrect interpretation of technical data

Technological advances in electronics have considerably simplified the operation of balances, reducing weighing times. Moreover, the touchscreen digital display makes operation of the balance intuitive.

However, this apparent ease of use can lead to insufficient care being taken to avoid the negative influence on analysis results caused by multiple factors affecting weighing accuracy. External influences are defined as physical effects that are measurable for all laboratory balances. Examples of external influences include:

• Electrostatic forces
• Airflow
• Environmental vibrations
• Effects of magnetism
• Evaporation
• Moisture uptake

Certain sample characteristics – such as evaporation of liquids or hygroscopic/hydrophobic solid materials gaining or losing weight – may also be mistaken for external influences.

METTLER TOLEDO’s Weighing the Right Way guidelines will help you understand these factors and more so that you can avoid mistakes, save time, and get your weighing results right the first time.