What Is the Standard Unit of Volume in the Metric System?

Graduated cylinders can be used to measure milliliters, a metric unit of volume.

The metric system is based on powers of 10, such as 0.01, 100 and 1,000. Each power of 10 is denoted by a prefix. For example, the prefix "centi-" means 0.01, and so 1 centimeter is equal to 0.01 meters. (See References 1)

Units of Volume

The standard unit of volume in the metric system is the liter, denoted by the abbreviation "L." For small quantities of volume, it is common to use milliliters, abbreviated "mL," instead. Because the prefix "milli-" means 0.001, 1 mL is equal to 0.001 L. Conversely, 1 L is equal to 1,000 mL. In addition, 1 mL is equal to 1 cubic centimeter.

Converting to Units of Mass

The metric system was designed so that 1 mL of water weighs 1 gram. So, for example, 324 mL of water weighs 324 g. Many liquids used in scientific experiments have a density approximately equal to that of water, and so the conversion of 1 mL = 1 g can be used as an approximation for those liquids as well.

Prevalence of the Metric System

The metric system is used in nearly every nation except the United States. It is also part of the international scientific system of measurement. As a result, scientific literature in the United States is written using the metric system even though the United States generally uses the English system of feet, inches, pounds, etc.

References

• National Institute of Standards and Technology: Definitions of the SI Units: The Twenty SI Prefixes
• Dr. Richard Wallace: Massive and Volume Relationships
• US Metric Association: Metric Usage and Metrication in Other Countries