Question

What does the term “tare” mean in chemistry?

Answer 1

The word tare is used when we have to weigh chemicals on a balance, by using the tare button which allows you to account for only the weight of the substance being measured and not the weight of the container that it used.

Complete step by step answer:
Tare basically indicates the tare of the container when it’s empty, which is important when we cannot weigh without putting it into something else.
For example, when we can’t take the measure of olive oil without putting in a vessel, we need to find the weight of the vessel, its tare so we don’t add that to the weight of olive oil.
The same thing happens when it comes to huge cargo containers, airplanes, railroad cars etc. In chemistry, a tare is said to be counterweight by using this same principle.
It sets the weight scale to zero, and subtracting the weight of the container. So just in case if we want to weigh $100$ grams of salt in a bowl, followed by $75$ grams of butter without using maths, we could take a bowl and place it on a scale and then use the tare button. The scale will show $0.00$ grams, so when you add any of the substance the scale will take the weight of that substance. This is how we can weigh the amount of chemicals.

Note:
When we say tare it means to set the balance to zero. This accounts to any build up scale throwing off the actual weight. Also when we measure something using a balance, we have the container which we don’t weigh. The alternative for containers could be a flask, beaker, a watch glass or even a piece of paper.