What is Analytical balance?
- Analytical balances (also known as chemical balances) are designed to measure mass in the sub-milligram range.
- The measuring pan of an analytical balance (0.1 mg resolution or better) is enclosed in a glass cage with doors to prevent dust accumulation and to prevent air currents from affecting the functioning of the balance.
- This enclosure is commonly referred to as a draught shield. The employment of a mechanically ventilated balance safety enclosure with specially designed acrylic airfoils permits a turbulence-free airflow that prevents balance variations and the measurement of masses as low as 1 g without fluctuations or product loss.
- In addition, the sample must be at room temperature in order to prevent natural convection from producing air currents within the enclosure and causing a reading inaccuracy.
- A single pan mechanical substitution balance is a technique for keeping a constant reaction throughout the balance’s useful capacity.
- This is accomplished by maintaining a consistent load on the balancing beam and, consequently, the fulcrum by subtracting mass from the same side of the beam as the sample is added.
- Instead of employing actual masses, electronic analytical scales assess the force required to oppose the mass being measured. Consequently, they require calibration changes to account for gravitational variances caused by varying locations and altitudes.
- They generate a force to counter the sample being measured using an electromagnet and output the result by measuring the power (and resulting force) required to achieve equilibrium. This type of measuring instrument is known as an electromagnetic force restoration sensor.
- Electronic analytical balances, single-disk analytical balances, and electro-optical analytical balances are the three primary types of analytical balances.
- Analytical electronic balances are a popular instrument found in chemical laboratories.
What is Triple beam balance?
- The triple beam balance is a tool for precisely measuring mass.
- Typically, such instruments have a reading inaccuracy of 0.05 grammes. Its name alludes to the fact that it has three beams, with the middle beam being the largest, the far beam being of medium size, and the front beam being the smallest.
- The disparity in size between the beams reflects the disparity in weights and scale readings that each beam measures.
- The reading scale of the centre beam typically reads in 100 gramme increments, that of the distant beam in 10 gramme increments, and that of the front beam between 0 and 10 grammes.
- The triple beam balance can be used to directly measure mass from objects, calculate liquid mass by difference, and measure chemicals.
- The triple beam balance is used to precisely measure masses, with a reading error of 0.05 grammes.
- Move the three sliders on the three beams to the leftmost places, such that the balance reads 0, with the pan empty. If the indicator on the far right is not aligned with the fixed point, calibrate the balance by twisting the set screw under the pan on the left.
- After calibrating the balance, place the object to be measured on the pan.
- Slide the 100 gramme indication to the right along the beam until the indicator falls below the set mark. Immediately to the left of this point is a notched location that represents the amount of hundreds of grammes.
- Now drag the 10-gram indicator to the right along the beam until the indicator falls below the fixed threshold. The notched position to this point’s immediate left specifies the number of tens of grammes.
- The front beam is not notched, thus the slider can go wherever along it. The numbers in boldface on this beam represent grammes, while the tick marks between the boldface numbers represent tenths of grammes.
- To determine the object’s mass, simply add the numbers from the three beams.
- As with a ruler, the front scale can be read to the nearest half tick point.
Difference Between Analytical Balance Vs Triple Beam Balance
| Topic | Analytical Balance | Triple Beam Balance |
| Structures | The components of an analytical balance are a weighing pan, an anti-draft ring, a display panel, a keyboard, two glass doors, four levelling feet, a level bubble, an rs-232 interface, a power inlet, a power cable, a calibration weight, a battery, and the balance’s main body. | A triple beam balance consists of a base, platform, adjustment knob, three beams with three sliding weights, and a magnetic dampening mechanism. |
| Principles | A balance for analytical purposes is fitted with an electromagnetic force sensor. Consequently, the primary foundation of an analytical balance’s operating principle is the fundamental of an electromagnetic force sensor. When gravity is applied to the weighing pan, the lever beneath it drives the coil connected to it to move in the magnetic field, and the coil is energised to cut the magnetic field, thereby generating electromagnetic force. The current signal is then collected, processed by the MCU, and converted into a weight that is displayed on the panel. | Using the Principle of Moments, a triple beam balance maintains equilibrium between the sample on the left weighing platform and the weights of known mass on the right beams, thereby measuring the mass of the sample. |
| Accuracies | Analytical balances are capable of determining the weight from 0.1mg to 0.0001mg. | Triple beam balances are usually able to measure 0.01g, 0.1g. |
| Uses | For analytical balances, tare the balance in a no-load state, then open the side door, place the sample on the weighing pan, and close the side door. The weight will be displayed on the screen. Clearly, a triple beam balance is more difficult to operate than an analytical balance. | Adjust the knob beneath the platform until the pointer returns to zero, and then place the sample to be measured on the platform. Then, shift the three sliding weights from highest to lowest mass in order to balance the left platform and right beams. Calculate the mass of the sample by reading the readings of the three sliding weights in the order of mass from high to low. Notate that the mass of the sliding weight on the middle beam is the greatest, followed by the sliding weight on the rear beam and the sliding weight on the front beam. |
| Prices | It is not difficult to imagine an analytical balance costing more than a triple beam balance. Depending on its capacity and precision, the price of a triple beam balance ranges from $20 to $800, whereas that of an analytical balance goes from $300 to $50,000. | Typically, a 0.1g triple beam balance costs between $30 and $200, whereas a 0.1mg analytical balance costs between $350 and $600. |
