Final answer:
The number of grams in a milliliter (ml) depends on the substance's density, with 1 ml of water being approximately 1 gram. To convert ml to grams, the density of the substance in g/ml must be known and used as a conversion factor.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question 'how many grams is a ml' is focused on the conversion between mass and volume, which is a topic of Chemistry. In essence, the number of grams in a milliliter (ml) depends on the substance's density. The milliliter is a unit of volume, and the gram is a unit of mass. To convert between these two, you need to know the density of the substance. For example, the density of water is approximately 1 gram per milliliter (1 g/ml), which makes the conversion straightforward for water. However, for other substances, such as mercury or air, the density and hence the conversion factor will be quite different.
Other common units of mass are the gram and the milligram, with a gram being 1/1000th of a kilogram, and a milligram being 1/1000th of a gram. When doing conversions, it's important to use a conversion factor that aligns with the units you want to cancel out and introduce, making sure the final answer is in the correct unit of mass.
For example, to convert the mass of 2.0 ml of mercury to grams, you would use mercury's density (approximately 13.6 g/ml) as the conversion factor:
13.6 g 2.0 ml X 1 ml
In general, to convert ml to grams, you would use the formula:
Density of the substance (g/ml) x Volume (ml) = Mass (grams)