Analytical Balance

Yes!

The procedure specifies that the analytical balance be used.

A top-loading balance will only measure to 3 decimal places, whereas the analytical balance will measure to 4 decimal places. The extra decimal place will give you an additional significant figure for your calculations. (How many significant figures are there when measuring 0.07 g to 3 decimal places? When measuring to 4 decimal places?)

Measure Sodium Carbonate

Place a weighing boat on the analytical balance.

Tare the weighing boat so that the display reads 0.000 g.

Add sodium carbonate until the you have 0.07 - 0.10 g.

Transfer Sample to a Flask

Transfer the sodium carbonate into a 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask by using your wash bottle filled with distilled water to wash all of the solid from the weighing boat into the flask. You are performing a quantitative transfer which ensures that the entire sample is transferred.

Add enough water so that the total volume is approximately 50 mL. It is not necessary to record the volume.

Add 4 – 6 drops of thymol blue indicator. Record your observations in your lab notebook.