North Carolina Medication Aide (Med Tech) Practice Exam

How do milliliters and milligrams compare to each other?

1. They are the same

2. Milliliters are larger

3. Milligrams are larger

4. They measure different things

The correct answer is: They measure different things

Milliliters and milligrams measure different physical quantities, which is why this choice is the correct one. Milliliters (mL) are a unit of volume, commonly used to measure liquids, while milligrams (mg) quantify mass or weight. Understanding this distinction is crucial in fields like medicine and pharmaceuticals, where accurate dosing of liquids (volume) and solids (weight) are essential for patient safety and effectiveness of treatments. Recognizing that these two units serve different purposes means you cannot directly compare them without knowing the density of the substance in question. For example, 1 milliliter of water weighs about 1000 milligrams, while this will not hold true for substances with different densities. This fundamental difference in what each unit measures underscores the importance of using the correct unit for the specific context.