Metric System

MEASUREMENT

1.1 - Metric System

SI prefix for the base unit of liter (L):

PREFIX

MULTIPLE / SCIENTIFIC NOTATION

Volume

Liter Equivalent

mega-

1,000,000 or 10⁶

ML (megaliter)

1 ML = 1,000,000 liter

kilo-

1,000 or 10³

kL (kiloliter)

1 kL = 1,000 liter

deci-

0.1or 10^-1

dL (deciliter)

1 dL = 0.1liter

centi-

0.01 or 10-2

cL (centiliter)

1 cL = 0.01liter

milli-

0.001or 10^-3

mL (milliliter)

1 mL = 0.001liter

micro-

0.000001or 10^-6

µL (microliter)

1 µL = 0.000001liter

nano-

0.000000001or 10^-9

nL (nanoliter)

1 nL = 0.000000001liter

Some approximate sizes:

a soft drink can holds approximately 350 mL of pop
20 drops from a medicine dropper is approximately 1 mL
a cup holds approximately 250 mL
a teaspoon holds approximately 5 mL of liquid

All contents copyrighted © 1996-2006
British Columbia Institute of Technology
Chemistry Department - 3700 Willingdon Avenue
Burnaby, B.C. Canada V5G 3H2

PREFIX	MULTIPLE / SCIENTIFIC NOTATION	Volume	Liter Equivalent
mega-	1,000,000 or 10⁶	ML (megaliter)	1 ML = 1,000,000 liter
kilo-	1,000 or 10³	kL (kiloliter)	1 kL = 1,000 liter
deci-	0.1or 10^-1	dL (deciliter)	1 dL = 0.1liter
centi-	0.01 or 10-2	cL (centiliter)	1 cL = 0.01liter
milli-	0.001or 10^-3	mL (milliliter)	1 mL = 0.001liter
micro-	0.000001or 10^-6	µL (microliter)	1 µL = 0.000001liter
nano-	0.000000001or 10^-9	nL (nanoliter)	1 nL = 0.000000001liter