What Is Minimum Weight and How Accurate Weighing Can Be Ensured

What Is Minimum Weight and How Accurate Weighing Can Be Ensured
The “minimum weight” refers to the minimum quantity of a sample required when the measurement uncertainty
(potential error) of the balance used is taken into account.
If the sample quantity to be weighed is too small, uncertainty will take up too large a portion of the weighed
value, and consequently make the result of the analysis unreliable. Therefore, if a balance has the minimum
weight set to it, operators must pay attention so that the sample quantity (net weight excluding the tare) does
not fall below the minimum weight.
USP
In the pharmaceutical industry, the general chapters (GC) <41> and <1251> of the United States Pharmacopoeia
(USP) are widely recognized as standards for managing balances, and how a minimum weight is calculated is
also stipulated in these chapters.
According to the GC <41> “Balances”, a balance used for samples that necessitate accurate weighing must be
calibrated over the operating range and meet the following requirements defined for repeatability and
accuracy:
Repeatability requirements
1) Repeatability is assessed by measuring one test weight not fewer than 10 times.
2) Repeatability is satisfactory when two times the standard deviation (S.D.) of the weighed values, divided
by the desired smallest net weight (the smallest sample quantity that users actually intend to measure with
the balance), does not exceed 0.10%.
These conditions can be expressed as:
(2 × S.D. of not fewer than 10 repeated weighing) / smallest net weight ≤ 0.10%
In other words, the following can be said:
Minimum weight ≥ 2000 × Repeatability (S.D.)
Further,
3) When the S.D. obtained is smaller than 0.41d (d = scale interval), that S.D. is replaced with 0.41d.
 The reason why the minimum weight is determined from repeatability is that when the measurement
quantity is small, repeatability becomes dominant as uncertainty component (sensitivity, non-linearity and
eccentricity can be disregarded).
 Repeatability is not greatly affected by the value of the test weight. Accordingly, when determining the
minimum weight, it is unnecessary to use a weight that is close to the expected minimum weight (i.e. too
small and difficult to handle). On the other hand, if the weight is excessively large, there rises the risk of
eccentricity and other factors that affect the measurement. A few percent of the balance capacity is therefore
considered appropriate.
 Repeatability can vary depending on the day-to-day environmental conditions (draft, vibration,
temperature/humidity changes, etc.) and the weighing skills of operators. It is thus recommended that the
lower limit of the actual sample quantities to be measured (i.e. smallest net weight) be sufficiently, not just
barely, above the set minimum weight.
Accuracy requirements
1) Using a suitable weight(s), accuracy is satisfactory when the measured value does not deviate by more than
0.10% of the test load value.
2) A suitable test weight has a mass between 5% and 100% of the balance capacity.
3) The maximum permissible error, or alternatively the calibration uncertainty, of the test weight is not more
than 1/3 of the applied test limit of the accuracy test (0.10% of the test load value).
Examples of minimum weights (for reference)
Specifications
Readability (d) Model Minimum weight (typical)*2
Capacity Repeatability (S.D.)*1
BA-6TE 6.2 g 1 μg (for 1 g) 1.8 mg
BA-6E 6.2 g 1 μg (for 1 g) 1.8 mg
0.001 mg
BM-5 5.2 g 1.2 μg (for 1 g) 2.0 mg
BM-20 22 g 2.5 μg (for 1 g) 3.0 mg
BA-225TE 220 g 0.015 mg (for 50 g) 20 mg
BA-225 220 g 0.015 mg (for 50 g) 20 mg
BM-252 250 g 0.03 mg (for 100 g) 20 mg
0.01 mg GH-252 101 g (fine range) 0.03 mg 24 mg
GH-202 51 g (fine range) 0.02 mg 24 mg
HR-202i 51 g (fine range) 0.02 mg 24 mg
GR-202 42 g (fine range) 0.02 mg 30 mg
BM-500 520 g 0.2 mg 120 mg
GH-200 220 g 0.1 mg 120 mg
GR-200 210 g 0.1 mg 120 mg
GX-324AE 320 g 0.1 mg (for 200 g) 120 mg
0.1 mg
GX-324A 320 g 0.1 mg (for 200 g) 120 mg
GF-324A 320 g 0.1 mg (for 200 g) 120 mg
HR-250AZ 252 g 0.1 mg 140 mg
HR-250A 252 g 0.1 mg 140 mg
GX-203A 220 g 0.001 g 1.4 g
GF-203A 220 g 0.001 g 1.4 g
0.001 g
FZ-200i 220 g 0.001 g 1.4 g
FX-200i 220 g 0.001 g 1.4 g
GX-2002A 2200 g 0.01 g 14 g
GF-2002A 2200 g 0.01 g 14 g
0.01 g
FZ-2000i 2200 g 0.01 g 14 g
FX-2000i 2200 g 0.01 g 14 g
*1 Repeatability specifications in accordance with brochures/data sheets. Corrected sample standard deviation (the
denominator is n-1).
*2 Based on actual repeatability measured using a weight of 5% of the balance capacity, which was properly
calibrated (adjusted) and operating in a favorable environment
In order to determine the minimum weight for a balance, repeatability needs to be assessed in the actual
environment where the balance is used. For high precision balances, especially those with a readability of 0.1
mg or finer, it is important to ensure a good environment as repeatability is influenced by environmental
conditions as well as the balance settings.

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What Is Minimum Weight and How Accurate Weighing Can Be Ensured

These conditions can be expressed as:

In other words, the following can be said:

Minimum weight ≥ 2000 × Repeatability (S.D.)

Examples of minimum weights (for reference)

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