5 mL = ? cm3
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is 5 mL = 5 cm³.
To understand why, it’s important to know the relationship between milliliters (mL) and cubic centimeters (cm³). These two units are actually equivalent. In the metric system, 1 milliliter (mL) is defined as the volume of a cube that has sides measuring 1 centimeter (cm). A cubic centimeter (cm³) is simply a cube with each side measuring 1 cm.
The relationship is simple: 1 mL = 1 cm³. This equivalency holds because both milliliters and cubic centimeters are units used to measure volume, and they represent the same quantity in different terms. Therefore, when converting between these two units, the numerical value remains unchanged.
For example, if you have a volume of 5 mL, that is directly equivalent to 5 cm³. This can be visualized as a cube with a length, width, and height of 1 cm, giving a total volume of 1 cm³. So, if you have a larger volume, like 5 mL, you would have a cube that could hold 5 smaller cubes, each measuring 1 cm³.
This equivalency is especially useful in scientific contexts, such as chemistry and biology, where measurements are often given in either milliliters or cubic centimeters. It is important to remember that both units are commonly used to measure liquid volumes, and no conversion factor is needed to switch between them. In summary, 5 mL is exactly the same as 5 cm³, and this direct conversion simplifies many tasks in measurement and calculation.