Convert Carat (car, ct) to Femtogram (fg) instantly.
About these units
Carat (car, ct)
The carat, equal to 200 milligrams, is the standard unit for measuring gemstones and pearls. Its origins trace to the seeds of the carob tree, which were historically thought to have remarkably uniform mass, making them convenient reference weights for early traders. In the modern gem trade, carats measure both weight and (informally) influence perceived value—though size and quality factors such as clarity and color also play major roles. High-precision digital scales capable of reading to 0.001 carat are common in gemology. The carat's persistence shows how specialized units evolve to meet the needs of niche industries. Though small, its economic impact is enormous due to the value of gemstones.
Femtogram (fg)
A femtogram is 10⁻¹⁵ grams, an extraordinarily small unit used primarily in molecular biology, analytical chemistry, and particle science. At this scale, masses correspond to small clusters of molecules, fragments of genetic material, or trace contaminants in environmental samples. In genomics, for example, the femtogram level may represent the mass of DNA extracted from just a few cells, pushing the limits of current sequencing technologies. Advanced mass spectrometers and nanoscale resonators can detect femtogram-level differences, revealing chemical changes invisible at larger scales. The femtogram symbolizes the reach of modern science into realms once thought beyond measurement. As techniques continue to improve, femtogram-level precision will become increasingly common in nanotechnology and biophysics.