COMMON MEDICAL CONVERSIONS

Liquid Measurement Conversions

Quantity	Conversion
½ teaspoon	2.5 mL
1 teaspoon	5 mL
2 teaspoons	10 mL
½ tablespoon	7.5 mL
1 tablespoon	15 mL
3 teaspoons	1 tablespoon
1 liter	1000 mL
1 fluid ounce	30 mL*
1 pint	473 mL*
1 gallon	3785 mL*
* Approximately Abbreviations Teaspoon = tsp Tablespoon = Tbsp or Tb Milliliter = mL Liter = L Fluid ounce = fl oz Pint = pt Gallon = gal

Solid Measurement Conversions

Quantity	Conversion
1000 micrograms	1 milligram
1000 milligrams	1 gram
1000 grams	1 kilogram
1 kilogram	2.2 pounds
1 ounce	28,300 milligrams
1 ounce	28.3 grams
1 pound	16 ounces
1 pound	454 grams
1 pound	0.45 kilograms
1 stone	14 pounds
1 stone	6.35 kilograms

Abbreviations

• Microgram = mcg (may also be written µgm)
• Milligram = mg
• Gram = gm
• Kilogram = kg
• Ounces = oz
• Pounds = lbs

Temperature Measurement Conversions

      The Fahrenheit scale for temperature is only used in the United States and its associated colonies, although Canada still retains it as a supplementary scale.

To convert Fahrenheit to Celsius, take the Fahrenheit temperature and subtract 32, then multiply this number by 5, then divide the answer by 9 to obtain the temperature in degrees Celsius.

To convert Celsius to Fahrenheit, take the Celsius temperature and multiply it by 1.8, then add 32 to obtain the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.

The Celsius and Fahrenheit scales meet at -40°. Above -40°, Fahrenheit temperatures are always higher than corresponding Celsius temperatures, and below -40°, Fahrenheit temperatures are lower than the corresponding Celsius temperatures.

Temperature	Conversion
-40°C	-40°F
-17.8°C	0°F
0°C	32°F
30°C	86°F
100°C	212°F

Abbreviations

• Celsius = C
• Fahrenheit = F

The Kelvin Temperature Scale

The Kelvin temperature scale is called an absolute temperature scale because it begins at zero and progresses in only one direction (there are no negative temperatures in the Kelvin scale).

The zero point of the Kelvin scale is absolute zero, which is the theoretical temperature at which molecules of a substance have their lowest kinetic energy and cannot get any colder. The Kelvin scale is defined using the third law of thermodynamics.

The Kelvin scale is related to the Celsius scale but is conventionally written without the degree symbol. Zero kelvin (written 0k) corresponds to −273.15°C on the Celsius temperature scale.  

The Kelvin scale is mainly used for scientific temperature measurement because it allows many physical laws and formulas to be expressed more simply. The kelvin is the base unit of temperature in the International System of Units (SI). It is named after British mathematician and physicist William Thomson Kelvin, who proposed it in 1848.

Kelvin	Celsius
0	-273.15
273.15	0
373.15	100

Note that 1 kelvin has the same magnitude as 1 degree Celsius, as seen by the difference between the freezing and boiling points of water of 100 degrees Celsius (or 100 kelvins).