Question

What do you use scales for?

Answer 1

Physical scales are generally used to measure mass, but if you mean temperature scales, `""^oC` and `K` are commonly used in chemistry to express reaction conditions.

Explanation:

Typically laboratory scales and balances are used to measure mass in grams. In physics, there are spring scales that measure weight in Newtons.

In Chemistry, I often see the usage of `""^oC` to express reaction conditions, like how biological reactions often occur at `37^oC`, or STP is at `25^oC`, or water freezes at `0^oC`.

I also often see `K` used to do calculations, like using the ideal gas law, or using the universal gas constant `R`.

You may also see `K` being used interchangeably with `""^oC` when describing changes per unit of temperature (e.g. `J/(g^oC)` vs. `J/(g*K)`), since any `DeltaT` is identical in `""^oC"` as in `K`.