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What Are the Functions of the Weighing Pans?

Weighing pans, also called "weighing dishes" or "scale pans," are containers of varying depth used for holding standard and/or unknown masses on a scale or analytical balance. Weighing pans come in a wide range of sizes and shapes and can be made out of stainless steel, aluminum, porcelain, glass, fiberglass, various plastics and a number of materials chemically inert to the substance being weighed. Some types of scales have built-in pans for added convenience.

Equipment Protection
- Equipment protection counts as the most basic use of a weighing pan, especially as far as expensive analytical balances are concerned. Rather than placing the substance of unknown mass directly on the weighing platform, the pan contains it safely, preventing any possible damage to the scale, which is important not only for liquids but also for powders, small solids and corrosive substances, all of which could harm the machine's sensitive electronics.
Precision
- A weighing pan makes measurements more precise in several ways. Eccentric loading often causes errors in readings due to torque and other interfering forces. Most balances have mechanisms that stabilize improperly placed samples, but these aren't always sufficient. Some weighing pans are designed with specialized structures to increase stability and distribute weight properly, eliminating corner load errors. Also, using a weighing pan ensures that as little mass as possible is lost between weighing and transferring the material from the scale to wherever it is needed, such as a beaker or flask.
Easy Dispensing
- Some weighing pans come equipped with spouts and handles or tabs, allowing them to double as weighing funnels, which makes adjustments such as scooping or pouring easy even without the use of a spatula or secondary container. These types of weighing pans are ideal for granulated solids as well as for liquids. They are market and grocery staples used by vendors for products such as salt, sugar, flour, powdered spices, pasta, beans, grains, kibble and feed pellets.
Contamination Prevention
- Contamination prevention is key not only in regards to laboratory samples, but also in more common settings such as marketplaces and meat delis. In a lab, the stress is on keeping samples pure to prevent getting unexpected reactions or less than desirable results. The health and safety of the consumer, on the other hand, stands as a top priority in the latter. Butcher shops and delis sell their products by the pound, which requires constant use of the weighing scale. While the scale itself would be troublesome to wash and sterilize, weighing pans make these tasks easy and convenient while keeping the products and the equipment clean.

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