Table of Contents
Understanding g/cm³
Grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³) is a unit of density commonly used in chemistry and materials science. It directly tells you the mass of one cubic centimeter of material. Water has a density of approximately 1.0 g/cm³ at 4°C, which makes it a convenient reference point for specific gravity calculations.
This unit is equivalent to g/mL for liquids, since 1 cm³ = 1 mL. Most metals have densities between 2 and 20 g/cm³, while plastics range from 0.9 to 2.0 g/cm³. Knowing density allows you to calculate mass from volume or determine if an object will float in a given liquid.
Conversion Formulas
Material Densities
| Material | g/cm³ | kg/m³ |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | 2.70 | 2700 |
| Steel | 7.85 | 7850 |
| Copper | 8.96 | 8960 |
| Gold | 19.32 | 19320 |
| Water | 1.00 | 1000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is specific gravity?
Specific gravity is the ratio of a material's density to the density of water (1 g/cm³). A specific gravity of 2.7 means the material is 2.7 times denser than water. Since water's density in g/cm³ is approximately 1, the numerical value of density in g/cm³ equals the specific gravity.
How do I convert g/cm³ to kg/m³?
Multiply by 1000. Since there are 1,000,000 cm³ in 1 m³ and 1000 g in 1 kg, the conversion factor is 1000. For example, aluminum at 2.70 g/cm³ equals 2700 kg/m³.