Convert Scruple (Apothecary) (s.ap) to Attogram (ag) instantly.
About these units
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.
Attogram (ag)
An attogram is 10⁻¹⁸ grams, an incredibly small mass used only in advanced scientific settings. At this scale, we are dealing with masses comparable to large molecules, viruses, or clusters of atoms. Modern techniques such as atomic force microscopy, mass spectrometry, and nanoscale resonators allow detection of attogram-level changes. Researchers studying chemical reactions, nanotechnology, and molecular biology may use attograms when describing ultra-fine mass differences. The attogram is an example of scientific progress: a unit unnecessary in the past, but now essential for understanding the smallest measurable interactions in nature.