gcm3

Gcm3, written as g/cm^3, is a common non-SI unit of density used in science and engineering. The standard symbol is g/cm^3, though the ASCII form gcm3 appears in some data files and software. It expresses the mass per unit volume: density ρ equals mass divided by volume, with mass in grams and volume in cubic centimeters. Since 1 cm^3 equals 1×10^-6 m^3, 1 g/cm^3 equals 1000 kg/m^3.

The unit is widely used in materials science, geology, chemistry, and related fields to compare how compact different substances are. Examples of typical densities include water at about 1.00 g/cm^3 (at 4°C), ice at about 0.917 g/cm^3, aluminum around 2.70 g/cm^3, iron about 7.87 g/cm^3, lead about 11.34 g/cm^3, and gold about 19.3 g/cm^3. Densities can vary with temperature and pressure, so data are often given for specified conditions.

Measurement and calculation: density is determined by measuring mass and volume directly or by using specialized instruments. Common methods include hydrostatic weighing based on Archimedes’ principle, pycnometry, densitometry, and X-ray or CT-based techniques. For gases, densities are typically reported with reference to standard temperature and pressure, and they vary more substantially with changes in conditions than liquids or solids.

In practice, g/cm^3 remains a convenient unit in non-SI contexts because it provides intuitive values for everyday materials, while the SI-compatible equivalent is kg/m^3. Users should note the conditions under which a density value is reported to ensure correct interpretation and comparison.