A centigram (cg) is a metric unit of mass or weight in the International System of Units (SI). It represents one one-hundredth of a gram or 10^-2 grams. The metric system is a decimal-based system of measurement used worldwide, and it provides a convenient way to express both large and small quantities of mass.
To provide context for the size of a centigram:
Centigrams are primarily used in situations where very small amounts of mass need to be measured with precision. However, they are not as commonly used as milligrams (10^-3 grams) or micrograms (10^-6 grams) in scientific and laboratory contexts. In everyday life, you may encounter centigrams less frequently, but they are still a valid metric unit of mass.
A milligram (mg) is a unit of mass in the metric system and the International System of Units (SI). It is equal to one one-thousandth of a gram, which means that 1 milligram is equivalent to 0.001 grams. The milligram is a small unit of mass commonly used for measuring very small quantities of substances, especially in scientific, medical, and pharmaceutical contexts.
For example, when you see the dosage of a medication listed on a prescription or on over-the-counter drugs, it is often measured in milligrams. Additionally, in laboratory settings, chemicals and substances are frequently measured in milligrams due to its precision in measuring small quantities.