Convert Pennyweight (pwt) to Microgram (µg) instantly.
About these units
Pennyweight (pwt)
The pennyweight, equal to 1/20 of a troy ounce or 1.55517384 grams, is a unit used primarily in the precious metals and jewelry industries. Its origins lie in medieval English coinage, when the weight of silver pennies provided a practical standard for small masses. Jewelers continue to use the pennyweight because many traditional pricing structures and metalworking conventions are built around troy-based subdivisions. For gold, silver, and dental alloys, the pennyweight remains easier to work with than grams due to long-established norms. Even though the metric system is now dominant scientifically, the pennyweight persists because industries tied to history—especially those involving money and precious goods—tend to maintain deeply rooted practices.
Microgram (µg)
A microgram is one-millionth of a gram, essential in pharmacology, nutrition science, and chemical analysis. Many vitamins, especially fat-soluble ones like vitamin D and K, are prescribed or measured in micrograms, as exceeding recommended doses can be harmful. In environmental monitoring, pollutant levels—such as airborne particulate matter—are often expressed in micrograms per cubic meter. Researchers working with catalysts or rare biological compounds rely on microgram-scale measurements for precise experiments. The microgram is indispensable in fields requiring tight control over small masses that impact biological or chemical systems significantly.