Convert Dalton (Da) to Scruple (Apothecary) (s.ap) instantly.
About these units
Dalton (Da)
The Dalton is numerically identical to 1 atomic mass unit and is commonly used in biochemistry and molecular biology, especially for expressing the masses of proteins, peptides, and macromolecules. While "u" is often preferred in physics and chemistry, the Dalton became the standard in biological sciences because it fits neatly into descriptions of amino acids, nucleotides, and biomolecular complexes. For example, a typical protein may have a mass of 50 kilodaltons (kDa). The adoption of the Dalton helped unify communication across genomics, proteomics, and structural biology. As molecular biology expands into nanotechnology and synthetic biology, the Dalton remains a central unit for describing the building blocks of life.
Scruple (Apothecary) (s.ap)
The scruple is an old apothecary unit equal to 20 grains or 1.2959782 grams, originating in ancient Greek and Roman medicine. Apothecaries used scruples for compounding herbal remedies, powders, and tinctures long before standardized metric systems were adopted. Its size made it ideal for preparing early pharmaceuticals where doses needed to be accurate but not excessively granular. Over centuries, the scruple appeared in medical recipes, early scientific writings, and even medieval charms and remedies. Although obsolete today, replaced by milligrams and grams, the scruple is vital for historians studying early medical texts, pharmacy records, and classical-era scientific practices.