Chemistry Conversion Factors and Constants
METRIC CONVERSION FACTORS
Prefix Abbreviation Conversion Factor For Example" For Example"
Mega- M 1000000 10
6
1 Megabyte = 1 x 10
6
bytes 1 byte = 10
-6
Megabytes
kilo- k 1000 10
3
1 kilometer = 1000 meters 1 meter = 0.001 kilometers
deci- d 0.1
10
-1
1 deciliter = 0.1 liters 1 liter = 10 deciliters
centi- c 0.01 10
-2
1 centimeter = 0.01 meters 1 meter = 100 centimeters
milli- m 0.001
10
-3
1 milliliter = 0.001 liters 1 liter = 1000 milliliters
micro- µ 0.000001 10
-6
1 microgram = 10
-6
grams 1 gram = 10
6
micrograms
nano n 0.000000001 10
-9
1 nanometer = 10
-9
meters 1 meter = 10
9
nanometers
pico p 0.000000000001
10
-12
1 picometer = 10
-9
meters 1 meter = 10
12
picometers
OTHER CONVERSION FACTORS AND CONSTANTS
Weight/Mass
16 ounces = 1 pound
1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds
454 grams = 1 pound
1 ton = 2000 pounds
Volume
1 liter = 1.0567 quarts
1 mL = 1 cm
3
1 gallon = 3.78 liters
1 gallon = 4 quarts = 128 fluid ounces
1 quart = 2 pints = 32 fluid ounces
1 pint = 2 cups = 16 fluid ounces
Length/Distance
1 inch = 2.54 centimeters
1 mile = 5280 feet = 1.609 kilometers
1 yard = 3 feet = 36 inches = 0.9144 meters
1 meter = 39.37 inches = 3.281 feet = 1.094 yards
1 kilometer = 1094 yards = 0.6215 miles
Density of Water: 1.00 g/mL Energy: 1 cal = 4.184 J
Time
1 year = 365 days = 12 months = 52 weeks
1 day = 24 hours
1 hour = 60 minutes
1 minute = 60 seconds
Temperature
( )
32Fº
9
5
Cº −=
and
32
5
9
CºFº +
⋅=
Kelvins = ºC + 273.15
Pressure Units: 1 atm = 760 mmHg = 101.325 kPa = 101325 Pa = 1.01325 bar = 14.7 psi = 29.92 inches Hg
Useful Constants:
Avogadro’s Number (N
A
) = 6.02 x 10
23
items / mole
Ideal Gas Constant (R) = 0.0821
Kmol
atmL
⋅
⋅
Speed of Light (c) = 3.00 x 10
8
m/s
Planck’s Constant (h) = 6.63 x 10
-34
J ⦁ s
