What Is centigram?
A centigram is a unit used to measure mass in the metric system. It helps us describe very small weights, smaller than a gram but bigger than a milligram.
The centigram is built from the gram. The word “centi” means one hundredth. So a centigram is one hundredth of a gram.
Definition
A centigram is defined as:
1 centigram = 0.01 gram
1 centigram = 10 milligrams
1 gram = 100 centigrams
The centigram is part of the metric system, which is based on powers of ten. This makes it easy to convert between centigrams, grams, kilograms and other metric units.
History / Origin
The centigram comes from the metric system, which started in France in the late 1700s. At that time, scientists and leaders wanted one clear and simple system for measuring everything.
They chose the gram as the basic unit of mass. From the gram, they created smaller and larger units by adding prefixes:
“milli” for one thousandth of a gram
“centi” for one hundredth of a gram
“kilo” for one thousand grams
The centigram was one of these new units. It was designed for situations where a gram was too large, but a milligram was too small.
Symbol & Abbreviation
The official symbol for centigram is:
cg
Notes on the symbol:
It uses a lowercase c and a lowercase g.
There is no dot after the symbol in modern science writing.
Do not write it as “cgm” or “centi g”. Those are not standard forms.
Current Use Around the World
The centigram is a valid metric unit, but it is not used as often as grams and milligrams.
Today you may find centigrams in:
School science lessons and textbooks, to teach metric prefixes.
Some chemistry and physics labs, for measuring small amounts of material.
Certain medicine or nutrition documents, especially older ones.
However, in most countries that use the metric system:
Food labels usually show grams or milligrams.
Body weight is given in kilograms.
Many scientists prefer grams and milligrams instead of centigrams.
So centigrams exist and are correct, but they are not the most common choice in daily life.
Example Conversions
Here are some easy conversions to help you understand how big a centigram is.
Centigrams to grams
1 cg = 0.01 g
10 cg = 0.1 g
25 cg = 0.25 g
50 cg = 0.5 g
100 cg = 1 g
Centigrams to milligrams
1 cg = 10 mg
5 cg = 50 mg
20 cg = 200 mg
75 cg = 750 mg
Centigrams to kilograms
1 cg = 0.00001 kg
1000 cg = 0.01 kg
10000 cg = 0.1 kg
100000 cg = 1 kg
Centigrams to ounces and pounds
These values are approximate, because they convert between metric and imperial systems.
1 cg ≈ 0.00035 ounces
100 cg ≈ 0.035 ounces
1000 cg ≈ 0.35 ounces
10000 cg ≈ 3.53 ounces
100000 cg ≈ 0.22 pounds
Related Units
The centigram is closely related to other metric mass units.
Milligram (mg) a milligram is one thousandth of a gram. 1 cg = 10 mg.
Gram (g) the base unit of mass in the metric system for everyday use. 1 g = 100 cg.
Kilogram (kg) equal to 1000 grams. Used to measure body weight and heavy objects. 1 kg = 100000 cg.
Metric ton or tonne (t) equal to 1000 kilograms. Mainly used for very heavy things like trucks or large loads.
There are also imperial units used in some countries, such as:
Ounce (oz) smaller imperial unit of weight.
Pound (lb) larger imperial unit. 1 pound is 16 ounces.
These imperial units are different systems, so you must use conversion factors when changing between them and centigrams.
FAQs
What is a centigram in simple words?
A centigram is a very small unit for measuring how heavy something is. It is one hundredth of a gram, so 100 centigrams make 1 gram.
How many milligrams are in a centigram?
There are 10 milligrams in 1 centigram. Milligrams are smaller than centigrams.
Is centigram part of the SI system?
The official SI base unit for mass is the kilogram, and the gram is commonly used as a smaller unit. The centigram comes from the same metric system and uses the SI prefix “centi”. However, it is not used as often as grams and milligrams.
When would someone use centigrams instead of grams?
Centigrams can be useful when grams feel too large and milligrams feel too small. For example, when measuring small amounts of chemicals in a lab or describing tiny parts of a gram in school problems.
Why do most people not see centigrams on packages?
Food and product labels usually show grams or milligrams because those units are more familiar and easy to read. Centigrams are correct, but they are less common, so companies rarely use them on packages.
How do I change centigrams to grams quickly in my head?
To change centigrams to grams, divide by 100. So move the decimal point two places to the left. For example, 250 cg becomes 2.50 g.
How do I change grams to centigrams?
To change grams to centigrams, multiply by 100. So move the decimal point two places to the right. For example, 3.4 g becomes 340 cg.