Balance Lab

Yaidelyn Alonso

Lab, Week #1

BALANCE LAB

Introduction

The purpose of this experiment is to familiarize us with the ilab and the balance lab. Learning the correct balance techniques is fundamental to the success of our experiment. In addition, this is just the start of following instructions properly and guiding us, so that we are aware of further experiments and labs that we will be doing. This also helps us play around a bit within the ChemLab so we are aware of all the functions possible. A balance is an instrument used to determine the mass of a chemical. In order to accomplish this in the Balance lab I have used the direct weighing and weighing by difference on both the centigram and electronic balances.

The topic is mainly on calculating the mass and difference using the centigram and the electronic balance. I noticed that the centigram has two decimal place precisions and the electronic balance has three decimal place precisions. Direct weighing requires how to read the mass directly from the balance. Weighing by difference requires recording the mass of an object in a container and then calculating the mass of the object by subtracting the mass of the container from the mass of the object.

Some major findings I observed was that weighing by difference did give a much more precise and accurate weighing of the copper slug when compared to the measurement taken with an electronic balance. It was a bit time consuming but it was doable. For example, the weight by difference of a slug using the centigram was 3.00g and using an electronic balance was 2.999g. Not much of a difference but may be a bit more accurate.

Procedure

The only equipment’s that were used in this lab were:

1. Centigram balance

2. Electronic balance

3. 100ml beaker

4. 5copper slugs

5. 2 unknown weights (labeled #1 and #2)

* First, Use the Equipment selection from the toolbar, from the Balances selection in the dropdown menu, select Centigram...