gramme

The gram is a unit of mass in the metric system. It is defined as one thousandth of a kilogram, and its symbol is g. The gram is widely used to measure small masses in science, medicine, industry, and everyday life. For reference, 1 kilogram equals 1000 grams, and 1 gram equals 1000 milligrams.

Origin and naming: The gram was introduced with the metric system in the late 18th century by France. In English, the unit is normally spelled gram, while in French the equivalent is gramme. Historical English texts sometimes used gramme, but gram is now standard. The gram is a derived SI unit; the base unit for mass is the kilogram, defined by Planck's constant.

Uses and conventions: Grams are commonly used to express small masses, such as food ingredients, chemical reagents, and body mass in medical contexts when not using kilograms. In labeling and commerce, products often list quantities in grams. The gram is related to the milligram (1 g = 1000 mg) and the kilogram (1 kg = 1000 g). See also: Kilogram, Milligram.