Measurements & Conversions: The Metric System, Avoirdupois System, Apothecary System

PHAR 115

Volume

measured in

• liter (l or L)

• deciliter (dl)

• milliliter (ml) (aka cubic centimeter, cc)

1 liter (l)

= 10 dl = 1000 ml

1 deciliter (dl)

= 0.1 l = 100 ml

1 milliliter (ml)

= 0.001 l = 0.01 dl

Weight

measured in

• kilogram (kg)

• gram (g)

• milligram (mg)

• microgram (mcg or μg)

• nanogram (ng)

1 kilogram (kg)

= 1000 g

1 gram (g)

= 0.001 kg = 1000 mg

1 milligram (mg)

= 0.001 g = 1000 mcg

1 micogram (mcg, μg)

= 0.001 mg = 0.000001 g

1 nanogram (ng)

= 0.000000001 g

Length

measured in

• meter (m)

• centimeter (cm)

• millimeter (mm)

1 meter (m)

= 100 cm

1 centimeter (cm)

= 10 mm

1 millimeter (mm)

= 1000 μm (micrometers)

Avoirdupois system (measurement of weights)

measured in

• pound (lb)

• ounce (oz)

• grain (gr)

1 pound (lb)

= 16 oz

1 ounce (oz)

= 437.5 gr

Apothecary system (used by physicians/pharmacists to weigh and measure medicines)

Fluid measured in

• gallon (gal)

• quart (qt)

• pint (pt)

Weight (don’t need to know!) :)

1 gallon (gal)

= 4 qt

1 quart (qt)

= 2 pt

1 pint (pt)

= 16 fl oz (fluid ounces)

Other Measurements

measured in

• teaspoon (tsp)

• tablespoon (tbsp, T)

• cup

1 teaspoon (tsp)

= 5 ml

1 tablespoon (tbsp)

= 3 tsp = 15 ml

1 cup

8 fl oz

1 meter (m)

= 39.37 inches (in)

1 inch (in)

= 2.54 centimeter (cm)

1 fluidram (fʒ)

= 3.69 ml (1 fluidram = 1 tsp/5 ml is accepted)

1 fluid ounce (f℥)

= 29.57 ml ( = 30 ml is accepted)

1 pint (16 fl oz)

= 473 ml

1 quart (32 fl oz)

= 946 ml

1 gallon (gal)

= 3785 ml

1 milliliter (ml)

= 20 drops (gtt)

1 kilogram (kg)

= 2.20 pounds (lb)

1 gr (grain)

= 0.065 grams (g), 65 milligrams (mg)

1 ounce (oz)

= 28.35 grams (g)

1 pound (lb)

= 454 grams (g)