Final answer:
To convert from microliters (μL) to nanoliters (nL), multiply the μL value by 1,000 since there are 1,000 nanoliters in one microliter. This is an exact conversion and does not affect the number of significant figures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The conversion factor from microliters (μL) to nanoliters (nL) is essential when working with different measurement units in scientific calculations. Remember that a microliter is 1 x 10-6 liters and a nanoliter is 1 x 10-9 liters. Therefore, to convert from μL to nL, you multiply the number of microliters by 103 (or 1,000), because there are 1,000 nanoliters in one microliter.
For example, if you have 10 μL of a substance, you would have 10 x 103 nL, which is 10,000 nL. Remember, when setting up your conversion, place the unit you wish to cancel out in the denominator of the conversion factor. Also, be mindful that exact numbers such as multiples of 10 which are part of conversion factors do not affect the number of significant figures; they are 'exact' numbers in the context of the conversion.