Question about unit conversions in chemistry?

Question

The book is asking me to convert measurements without the use of exponents. The problem that I'm on says "6.35 x 10^-4 L"

The book doesn't list a conversion for 10^-4, so I know that I need to go with either 10^-3 (milliliters) or 10^-6 (microliters).

Is one of these units more appropriate than the other to use? Which is a better answer, 635 microliters or .635 milliliters?

(I was thinking 635 microliters since it doesn't need the decimal, but I wasn't entirely sure.)

Answer 1

go with the microlitres...know one can bring in the significant figures argument then.

Answer 2

both are equally good but 635 microL is more direct and better when using a micropipette.

Answer 3

My personal preference and I think that this is supported by most scientists is to use 635 microlitres. The favoured subdivision in the metric system is to do so in steps of 1000.

So you have litre. If the volume is less than 1 litre, you say "so many millilitres". Until you get to 1 ml. Then if the volume is less that 1ml, it is technically better to go to the next 1000th subdivision and say: "so many microlitres"

Incidently, the way to write microlitres is: µm. How do you type the µ sign on a standard keyboard? Press the ALT key and type 230 release ALT key.  then type in the m