When converting from milliliters to liters, what is the conversion factor?

The correct conversion factor when converting from milliliters to liters is based on the relationship between the two metric units of volume. One liter is equal to 1000 milliliters. Therefore, to convert milliliters to liters, you divide the number of milliliters by 1000. This means that if you have a measurement in milliliters, you can determine how many liters that is by using the conversion factor of 1000.

For example, if you have 5000 milliliters and want to convert that to liters, you would calculate it as follows: 5000 mL ÷ 1000 = 5 L. This clearly illustrates how to apply the conversion factor to arrive at the correct number of liters from milliliters. Understanding this conversion is essential in pharmacy practice, as many medications and substances are measured in milliliters, but dosing and administration may require these amounts to be interpreted in liters. This understanding promotes accuracy in medication preparation and administration.