Metric System

MEASUREMENT

1.1 - Metric System

SI prefix for the base unit of gram (g):

PREFIX

MULTIPLE / SCIENTIFIC NOTATION

Mass

Gram Equivalent

mega-

1,000,000 or 10⁶

Mg (megagram)

1 Mg = 1,000,000 gram

kilo-

1,000 or 10³

kg (kilogram)

1 kg = 1,000 gram

deci-

0.1or 10^-1

dg (decigram)

1 dg = 0.1gram

centi-

0.01 or 10^-2

cg (centigram)

1 cg = 0.01gram

milli-

0.001or 10^-3

mg (milligram)

1 mg = 0.001gram

micro-

0.000001or 10^-6

µg (microgram)

1 µg = 0.000001gram

nano-

0.000000001or 10^-9

ng (nanogram)

1 ng = 0.000000001gram

Some approximate sizes:

a cup of coffee weighs approximately 250 grams
a pinch of salt weighs approximately 1 milligram
a 10-pound bag of potatos weighs approximately 4.5 kilograms

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British Columbia Institute of Technology
Chemistry Department - 3700 Willingdon Avenue
Burnaby, B.C. Canada V5G 3H2

PREFIX	MULTIPLE / SCIENTIFIC NOTATION	Mass	Gram Equivalent
mega-	1,000,000 or 10⁶	Mg (megagram)	1 Mg = 1,000,000 gram
kilo-	1,000 or 10³	kg (kilogram)	1 kg = 1,000 gram
deci-	0.1or 10^-1	dg (decigram)	1 dg = 0.1gram
centi-	0.01 or 10^-2	cg (centigram)	1 cg = 0.01gram
milli-	0.001or 10^-3	mg (milligram)	1 mg = 0.001gram
micro-	0.000001or 10^-6	µg (microgram)	1 µg = 0.000001gram
nano-	0.000000001or 10^-9	ng (nanogram)	1 ng = 0.000000001gram