Here's the breakdown:

* Mass: A measure of the amount of matter in an object. It's a fundamental property and doesn't change with location.

* Weight: A measure of the force of gravity acting on an object's mass. It changes depending on the gravitational field (for example, you'd weigh less on the moon).

Types of balances used in laboratories:

* Analytical balance: Extremely precise for measuring small masses (often to the nearest milligram).

* Top-loading balance: Less precise than an analytical balance but still accurate enough for many applications.

* Triple beam balance: A mechanical balance using sliding weights to determine mass.

Let me know if you'd like to explore these different types in more detail!