Converting 4.5 nanograms to micrograms per microliter? Please Help!!!

Chemistry and homework help forum.

Organic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physical Chemistry, Computational Chemistry, Theoretical Chemistry, High School Chemistry, Colledge Chemistry and University Chemistry Forum.

Share your chemistry ideas, discuss chemical problems, ask for help with scientific chemistry questions, inspire others by your chemistry vision!

Please feel free to start a scientific chemistry discussion here!

Discuss chemistry homework problems with experts!

Ask for help with chemical questions and help others with your chemistry knowledge!

Moderators: Xen, expert, ChenBeier

Post Reply
confused2021
Full Member
Full Member
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2021 5:42 pm

Converting 4.5 nanograms to micrograms per microliter? Please Help!!!

Post by confused2021 »

I am confused on how to convert 4.5 nanograms to micrograms per microliter. When I make the conversion do I have to use any calculations to get microliters. Using the fact that there are 1 x 10^-3 micrograms in 1 nanometer I get 4.5 x 10^-3 micrograms per microliter. Is this the correct answer?

Any assistance from anyone would be greatly appreciated!!!!
User avatar
ChenBeier
Distinguished Member
Distinguished Member
Posts: 1542
Joined: Wed Sep 27, 2017 7:25 am
Location: Berlin, Germany

Re: Converting 4.5 nanograms to micrograms per microliter? Please Help!!!

Post by ChenBeier »

Do you mix up a mass with a concentration?
1 ng is 10^-9 g
1 mikro g is 10*-6 g

But 1 g/ l = 1 mikro g/ mikro l = 1 ng/nl there is no difference.
confused2021
Full Member
Full Member
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2021 5:42 pm

Re: Converting 4.5 nanograms to micrograms per microliter? Please Help!!!

Post by confused2021 »

Thanks for your reply. By "Do you mix up a mass with a concentration?" did you mean to write "Did you mix up a mass with a concentration?" What I wrote is pretty much the whole question. It is a worksheet where I am given 4.5 ng and I am supposed to convert it to micrograms/microliter. I have shown how the problem looks below. Am I correct in assuming that the answer is 4.5 x 10^-3 micrograms/microliter. Any input on if you believe I have achieved the correct answer will be appreciated!!!

4.5 ng = ____microgram/microliter
User avatar
ChenBeier
Distinguished Member
Distinguished Member
Posts: 1542
Joined: Wed Sep 27, 2017 7:25 am
Location: Berlin, Germany

Re: Converting 4.5 nanograms to micrograms per microliter? Please Help!!!

Post by ChenBeier »

You cannot convert. One is a mass, the other one a concentration.

Its the same to convert $ in apple or miles in gallon.
You can convert ng in mikro g as mass.
1 ng = 0,001 mikro g
or as concentration 1 ng/ l in 0,001 mikro g / l.

In your case 4,5 ng = 0,0045 mikro g. The liter has nothing to with it.
confused2021
Full Member
Full Member
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2021 5:42 pm

Re: Converting 4.5 nanograms to micrograms per microliter? Please Help!!!

Post by confused2021 »

Thanks again for your reply!!! Do you believe that the question was perhaps a typo? Would I write "Not Applicable" as the answer?
User avatar
ChenBeier
Distinguished Member
Distinguished Member
Posts: 1542
Joined: Wed Sep 27, 2017 7:25 am
Location: Berlin, Germany

Re: Converting 4.5 nanograms to micrograms per microliter? Please Help!!!

Post by ChenBeier »

Yes , but I think it is a typo the liter was missed at the ng.
To get extra points deliver the explanation.
confused2021
Full Member
Full Member
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2021 5:42 pm

Re: Converting 4.5 nanograms to micrograms per microliter? Please Help!!!

Post by confused2021 »

Thanks for all your help!!! The worksheet says to put everything in scientific notation. Therefore if I get an answer, for example, as 1.5, would I write 1.5 x 10^0? Any input on this would be greatly appreciated!!!!
User avatar
ChenBeier
Distinguished Member
Distinguished Member
Posts: 1542
Joined: Wed Sep 27, 2017 7:25 am
Location: Berlin, Germany

Re: Converting 4.5 nanograms to micrograms per microliter? Please Help!!!

Post by ChenBeier »

I dont know what the teacher want to see. 1,5 ng is ok in my opinion.
Post Reply