Using water at 4°C, fill in the following information:
1 cm³
ml
The correct answer and explanation is :
1 cm³ (cubic centimeter) of water at 4°C is equal to 1 milliliter (ml).
Explanation:
At 4°C, water has its highest density, which is 1 gram per cubic centimeter (g/cm³). This means that:
- 1 cm³ of water = 1 ml
- 1 ml of water = 1 gram
This direct equivalence exists because the metric system was originally defined based on water’s properties. A liter (L) was historically defined as the volume of 1 kilogram of water at 4°C, leading to the smaller units aligning perfectly.
Why 4°C?
At 4°C, water reaches its maximum density due to hydrogen bonding. When water is cooled below 4°C, it starts expanding because of the formation of an open hexagonal structure in ice, making it less dense. This is why ice floats on water.
Applications:
- Scientific Measurements – In chemistry and physics, this property makes unit conversions simple.
- Medical Dosages – Liquid medications are measured in milliliters, assuming the density of water.
- Cooking & Baking – Recipes often use milliliters and grams interchangeably for water-based ingredients.
- Engineering & Industry – Precise volume and weight measurements rely on this principle.
This relationship between cubic centimeters and milliliters is an essential concept in various scientific and practical applications.
