A balance is used to measure mass. Normally it has one control: the control bar. If the
balance is off, switch on the display. Briefly press the control bar which is sometimes written as
“T”, the balance will eventually read 0.00, 0.000 or 0.0000 g depending on the scale of that
balance.
To weigh an item, simply place that item on the pan. If you want to weigh a chemical, do
not place that chemical directly on the pan. You must put that chemical on a weighing paper, or
in a beaker or a watch glass. The balance will automatically subtract the weight of the container
if the following process is performed:
1. Place the empty container on the balance pan; wait until the readout is stable.
2. Press the control bar or “Tare” or “O/T” briefly.
3. The balance will read zero and you may now place your item to be weighed in the
container and read off its weight. This process is called tarring; the container is said
to be tarred when its mass is zeroed out of the reading.