Mikrolitern

A microliter (symbol μL) is a unit of volume in the metric system equal to one millionth of a liter. It is also equal to a cubic millimeter (1 μL = 1 mm³). The prefix micro- denotes 10^-6, and the μL symbol is standard in scientific contexts, though ASCII representations such as uL are sometimes used.

In laboratory practice, microliters are used to measure small volumes of liquids. The unit is especially common in biology and chemistry when handling reagents, DNA samples, enzymes, dyes, and buffers. Pipetting devices called micropipettes enable accurate dispensing in the range from about 0.5 μL to tens or hundreds of μL, with precision depending on the instrument and technique.

Relationships and conversions: 1 liter equals 1000 milliliters; 1 milliliter equals 1000 microliters, so 1 μL = 0.001 mL and 0.000001 L. Because of the small volumes involved, temperature, evaporation, and surface tension can affect measurement accuracy, making proper calibration and technique important in routine work.

History and standardization: The microliter is part of the metric system’s volume scale and is commonly used alongside the liter in scientific work. While the liter is not an SI base unit, it is widely accepted for use with SI units, and the microliter is a standard non-SI unit in practical laboratory contexts. The definition and usage align with the broader system of metric prefixes and are widely adopted in scientific literature and protocols.

See also: Liters, Milliliter, Micropipette.