Skip to ContentGo to accessibility pageKeyboard shortcuts menu
OpenStax Logo
Chemistry: Atoms First 2e

C | Units and Conversion Factors

Chemistry: Atoms First 2eC | Units and Conversion Factors

Units of Length
meter (m)= 39.37 inches (in.)
= 1.094 yards (yd)
centimeter (cm)= 0.01 m (exact, definition)
millimeter (mm)= 0.001 m (exact, definition)
kilometer (km)= 1000 m (exact, definition)
angstrom (Å)= 10–8 cm (exact, definition)
= 10–10 m (exact, definition)
yard (yd)= 0.9144 m
inch (in.)= 2.54 cm (exact, definition)
mile (US)= 1.60934 km
Table C1
Units of Volume
liter (L)= 0.001 m3 (exact, definition)
= 1000 cm3 (exact, definition)
= 1.057 (US) quarts
milliliter (mL)= 0.001 L (exact, definition)
= 1 cm3 (exact, definition)
microliter (μL)(μL)= 10–6 L (exact, definition)
= 10–3 cm3 (exact, definition)
liquid quart (US)= 32 (US) liquid ounces (exact, definition)
= 0.25 (US) gallon (exact, definition)
= 0.9463 L
dry quart= 1.1012 L
cubic foot (US)= 28.316 L
Table C2
Units of Mass
gram (g) = 0.001 kg (exact, definition)
milligram (mg) = 0.001 g (exact, definition)
kilogram (kg) = 1000 g (exact, definition)
= 2.205 lb1
ton (metric) =1000 kg (exact, definition)
= 2204.62 lb
ounce (oz) = 28.35 g
pound (lb) = 0.4535924 kg
ton (short) =2000 lb (exact, definition)
= 907.185 kg
ton (long) = 2240 lb (exact, definition)
= 1.016 metric ton
Table C3
Units of Energy
4.184 joule (J) = 1 thermochemical calorie (cal)
1 thermochemical calorie (cal) = 4.184 ×× 107  erg
erg = 10–7 J (exact, definition)
electron-volt (eV) = 1.60218 ×× 10−19 J = 23.061 kcal mol−1
liter∙atmosphere = 24.217 cal = 101.325 J (exact, definition)
nutritional calorie (Cal) = 1000 cal (exact, definition) = 4184 J
British thermal unit (BTU) = 1054.804 J2
Table C4
Units of Pressure
torr = 1 mm Hg (exact, definition)
pascal (Pa) = N m–2 (exact, definition)
= kg m–1 s–2 (exact, definition)
atmosphere (atm) = 760 mm Hg (exact, definition)
= 760 torr (exact, definition)
= 101,325 N m–2 (exact, definition)
= 101,325 Pa (exact, definition)
bar = 105 Pa (exact, definition)
= 105 kg m–1 s–2 (exact, definition)
Table C5

Footnotes

  • 1Strictly speaking, the ounce and pound are units of weight, W (a force equal to the product of mass and gravitational acceleration, W = mg). The conversion relations in this table are commonly used to equate masses and weight assuming a nominal value for g at the surface of the earth.
  • 2BTU is the amount of energy needed to heat one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. Therefore, the exact relationship of BTU to joules and other energy units depends on the temperature at which BTU is measured. 59 °F (15 °C) is the most widely used reference temperature for BTU definition in the United States. At this temperature, the conversion factor is the one provided in this table.
Order a print copy

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Citation/Attribution

This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's permission.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution License and you must attribute OpenStax.

Attribution information
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a print format, then you must include on every physical page the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/chemistry-atoms-first-2e/pages/1-introduction
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a digital format, then you must include on every digital page view the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/chemistry-atoms-first-2e/pages/1-introduction
Citation information

© Jan 8, 2024 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.