Q: Which ONE of the following statements concerning single-pan electronic balances as replacements for the Class III balance is true?
Explanation: While free-swinging pan balances based upon the torsion principle are traditional in pharmacy, the more sophisticated electronic balances are suitable provided that they meet USP/NF standards of a sensitivity requirement of 6 mg or less (better). While the usual largest quantity to be weighed on the torsion balance without causing damage was 120 g,this is not an absolute quantity. The most important value for compounding is the allowable error, which should be not more than ± 5%.