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milligram to centigram – How to convert mg to cg
When measuring small weights in everyday life or scientific work, knowing how to convert between milligrams and centigrams can be surprisingly useful. A milligram (mg) equals 0.1 centigram (cg). This simple relationship plays an important role in pharmaceuticals, food labeling, and laboratory testing.
What is a Milligram?
A milligram is one-thousandth of a gram. Written in scientific notation, 1 mg = 1 × 10⁻³ g. It’s widely used for measuring tiny amounts of substances, from the caffeine in your coffee to the active ingredients in medications. Even small dietary supplements often list contents in milligrams for precise dosage.
What is a Centigram?
A centigram is one-hundredth of a gram. Expressed scientifically, 1 cg = 1 × 10⁻² g. Centigrams appear in areas like nutrition science, where weights may be expressed in slightly larger but still small units, making certain numbers easier to read and understand.
Conversion Formula
To convert milligrams to centigrams, divide by 10:
1 mg = 0.1 cg
For example, 75 mg ÷ 10 = 7.5 cg.
Do you know?
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The average tablet of vitamin C might weigh 500 mg, which is exactly 50 cg — an easy mental conversion for pharmacists.
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In competitive sports, anti-doping labs often analyze urine samples for banned substances at thresholds measured in milligrams or even fractions of a centigram.
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In culinary science, the delicate balance of flavors in gourmet recipes can require measurements as small as 10 mg, equal to just 1 cg.
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Gold leaf used in fine desserts is so thin and light that a single sheet might weigh less than 5 cg, yet cover an entire cupcake.
Weighing for Gold: The Centigram’s Role in Olympic Precision
During the 1920s, competitive weightlifting required precise calibration of plates and bars. Officials weighed each metal plate individually, sometimes down to the centigram, to ensure fairness. While most equipment was measured in kilograms, the final balance often came down to fractions of a gram. That centigram-level accuracy meant a gold medal could be won — or lost — by the tiniest measurable difference.
Today, in scientific research, that same level of attention applies when converting between milligrams and centigrams, especially in chemistry labs. From Olympic sports to medical breakthroughs, precise weight conversions remain a silent but powerful factor in success.
The Right Weight Every Time
Whether you’re adjusting medication doses, crafting gourmet dishes, or conducting scientific experiments, the milligram-to-centigram conversion keeps measurements accurate and consistent. Every 1 mg equals 0.1 cg — a small number with big importance.
For fast and accurate conversions, use our Weight Converter or explore all our Conversion Tools to find more measurement solutions for your needs.
