Convert Metric Units of Capacity

What is capacity? 

Capacity refers to the amount that can be held in a container. Capacity can be measured in metric units or customary units.  

Metric unit of capacity: The standard metric unit of capacity is the liter. From the liter, we get the rest of the metric units 

Note:  All of the other metric units of capacity are defined in terms of the liter. 

Let’s understand the metric units of capacity, what they are in actuality.  

Liter

The abbreviation for liter is ‘L’. 

1 liter is equal to 1000 Milliliter. 

1 liter capacity is the same as the amount of water in a drinking water bottle. 

Milliliter   

It is a very small unit of liquid. 

The abbreviation for milliliter is ‘’ml’. 

1 milliliter quantity is the same as 20 drops.  

Some basic metric units of capacity and relation between

Conversion between the metric units of capacity

Problem 

Carla has 4500 mL of cold drink. How many liters of cold drink does she have? 

Examples: 

1. 15 L = _____ mL. 

2. 2½ mL = _____L. 

3. 0.44 mL = _____L. 

4. 2.7 L = ___mL. 

Solution: 

1. Since, 1 L = 1000 mL 
So, 15 L = 15 × 1000  

= 15000 mL 

2. Since, 1 L = 1000 mL or  1000 mL = 1 L  
So, 1 mL = 1 ÷ 1000 L  or 1 mL = 0.001 L  
Now,  for 2½ mL  or 2.5 mL = 2.5 × 0.001

= 0.0025 L 

3. Since, 1 L = 1000 mL or  1000 mL = 1 L  
So, 1 mL = 1 ÷ 1000 L  or 1 mL = 0.001 L 
Now, for 0.44 mL = 0.44 × 0.001

= 0.00044 L 

4. Since, 1 L = 1000 mL 
So, 2.7 L = 2.7 × 1000  

= 2700 mL 

Example 1: Bernice made 1050 ml of gravy to go with her 5 kg turkey. The capacity of the gravy dish is 540 ml. How much gravy will be left in the pot after Bernice fills up the gravy dish? 

Solution:  

1050 – 540  

= 510 

510 mL of gravy will be left in the pot. 

Example2: I buy 10 L of milk. I use half of it. How many milliliters do I have left?  

Solution:  

Total quantity of milk = 10 L 

As half quantity is already used so, remaining quantity = 5L 

Now, quantity in mL = 5 × 1000 mL  

= 5000 mL  

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