Convert Square Micrometer (µm²) to Square Chain (ch²) instantly.
About these units
Square Micrometer (µm²)
A square micrometer, also called a square micron, equals 10⁻¹² square meters. It is a fundamental unit in microbiology, nanotechnology, semiconductor physics, and materials characterization. Cells, organelles, thin films, and laser spot sizes are frequently measured in µm². In semiconductor fabrication, transistor gates, nanoscale features, and photolithographic patterns often have areas measured at this scale. At such dimensions, quantum effects, crystal lattice structures, and electron mobility become important, making µm² not just a geometric unit but a bridge to fundamental physical behavior at microscopic scales.
Square Chain (ch²)
A square chain equals the area of a square one chain (~66 feet) per side, resulting in 4,356 square feet, or exactly 1/10 of an acre. This unit is closely linked to the chain, a surveyor's unit standardized by Edmund Gunter in the 17th century. Because 10 square chains make an acre, survey calculations for early colonial and American lands were extremely efficient. Square chains allowed surveyors to map and divide land rapidly using ropes or metal chains, producing a legacy seen in long, straight property lines still visible today across rural landscapes.