What is the primary use of weighing dishes or boats in a laboratory?

The primary use of weighing dishes or boats in a laboratory is to weigh chemicals after zeroing out. Weighing dishes or boats are designed to hold substances to be weighed without affecting the balance or scale measurements. When a weighing dish or boat is placed on a balance, the first step is to zero out the balance (tare it), which accounts for the weight of the dish or boat itself. This ensures that only the weight of the substance contained within is measured.

This method allows for precise measurement of small quantities of chemicals, which is crucial in many laboratory procedures, especially in biotechnology where accuracy in the quantities of reagents can significantly impact experimental outcomes.