Page 13 - Course Guide 2019

5 GENERAL UNITS IN PHARMACY

Units are very important in pharmaceutical formulation because it involves many different
measurements and measuring equipment. Hence, a pharmacist should be able to understand,
familiarize and perform unit conversions, and to do it precisely. Inability to do so may be an
inadequacy for a pharmacist to practice, and a careless mistake may cause adverse effect on
patients’ well-being. Therefore, care must be in place when calculating doses and measuring
ingredients for formulations.

5.1 METRIC UNITS

METRIC UNIT FOR LENGTH
2
1 m = 100 cm = 10 cm
3
= 1000 mm = 10 mm

= 10 µm
6
9
= 10 nm
3
1 mm = 1000 µm = 10 µm

3
1 µm = 1000 nm = 10 nm

METRIC UNIT FOR MASS
3
1 kg = 1000 g = 10 g
1 g = 10 kg
-3
3
= 1000 mg = 10 mg
= 10 µg
6
= 10 ng
9
1 mg = 1000 µg = 10 µg
3

1 µg = 1000 ng = 10 ng
3

METRIC UNIT FOR VOLUME
3
1 L = 1000 mL = 10 mL
= 10 cc
3
6
= 10 µL
3
1 mL = 1000 µL = 10 µL
= 1 cc = 10 mg
3

5.2 US MEASURES (VOLUME)
VOLUME MEASURES
1 fluid ounce (fl. oz.) = 29.57 mL

1 pint (liq. pt.) = 473 mL