Using this table as a reference, you can see the following: A kilogram is 1,000 times larger than one gram (so 1 kilogram = 1,000 grams). A centimeter is 100 times smaller than one meter (so 1 meter = 100 centimeters). A dekaliter is 10 times larger than one liter (so 1 dekaliter = 10 liters). Because Biology studies very small objects like the cell, a micrometer (m) is commonly used for lengths. These objects are so small, they are invisible to the eye but can be seen when magnified by a microscope. 1000 m = 1 mm. Here is a similar table that just shows the metric units of measurement for mass, along with their size relative to 1 gram (the base unit). The common abbreviations for these metric units have been included as well. Measuring Mass in the Metric System 1 kilogram (kg) 1 hectogram (hg) 1 dekagram (dag) 1 gram (g) 1 decigram (dg) 1 centigram (cg) 1 milligram (mg) 1,000 grams 100 grams 10 grams gram 0.1 gram 0.01 gram 0.001 gram Since the prefixes remain constant through the metric system, you can create similar charts for length and volume. The prefixes have the same meanings