THE MERCK MANUAL OF GERIATRICS, App. II, Weights and Measures

Appendixes

Appendixes: I. Laboratory Values \| II. Weights and Measures \| III. Trade Names of Some Commonly Used Drugs \| IV. Resources List

Appendix II. Weights and Measures

The milliequivalent (mEq) expresses the chemical activity, or combining power, of a substance relative to the activity of 1 mg of hydrogen. Thus, 1 mEq is represented by 1 mg of hydrogen, 23 mg of sodium, 39 mg of potassium, 20 mg of calcium, and 35 mg of chlorine. Conversion equations are as follows:

equation

(Note: formula wt = atomic or molecular wt)

The mEq is roughly equivalent to the milliosmole (mOsm), the unit of measure of osmolality or tonicity. Normally, the body fluid compartments each contain about 280 mOsm/L of solute.

Table. Metric System

Table. Metric-Nonmetric Equivalents

Table. Household Metric-Nonmetric Equivalents

Table. Atomic Weights of Some Common Elements

Table. Centigrade-Fahrenheit Equivalents