Units of Conductivity

Conductivity is a measure that quantifies a material’s ability to conduct electric current. It is crucial in fields ranging from materials science to electrical engineering, where understanding how well substances allow the flow of electric charge can influence the design and functionality of devices.

What are Units of Conductivity?

Conductivity is measured by assessing how well materials allow electrical current to flow through them. The primary unit is the Siemens per meter (S/m), which defines the electrical conductance of a material per unit length.

Transitioning to more specific applications, another common unit is the Siemens per centimeter (S/cm). This unit is particularly useful in chemistry, where it helps to evaluate the conductivity of solutions, indicating the level of ions present.

Additionally, the mho per meter (℧/m), equivalent to Siemens per meter, is used. Though older, this unit still appears in various scientific contexts, reinforcing its relevance in conductivity measurements.

SI Unit of Conductivity

Siemens per meter (S/m)

The SI unit of conductivity is the Siemens per meter (S/m). This unit quantifies how easily electricity can flow through a material. It represents the conductance of a material where a current of one ampere can flow through a sample one meter in length with a potential difference of one volt.

CGS Unit of Conductivity

reciprocal second (s⁻¹)

The CGS (Centimeter-Gram-Second) unit of conductivity is the reciprocal second(s⁻¹). In the CGS system, conductivity is sometimes referred to in terms of mho per centimeter (℧/cm), where mho is the reciprocal of the ohm, the unit of electrical resistance. This unit measures the electrical conductance of a material per centimeter of length, indicating how well the material can conduct an electrical current.

List of Conductivity Units

Unit	Symbol
Siemens per Meter	S/m
Mho per Meter	℧/m
Siemens per Centimeter	S/cm
Mho per Centimeter	℧/cm

Siemens per Meter (S/m)

1 S/m

The Siemens per meter is the SI unit of electrical conductivity. It measures the ability of a material to conduct an electric current and is defined as the conductivity of a material in which a current density of one ampere per square meter is produced by an electric field of one volt per meter.

Mho per Meter (℧/m)

1 ℧/m = 1 S/m

Mho per meter, also expressed as Siemens per meter, is used interchangeably with S/m. The term “mho,” being ohm spelled backwards, signifies the reciprocal of resistance (ohm).

Siemens per Centimeter (S/cm)

1 S/cm

This unit is commonly used in chemistry, especially in the context of ionic solutions and conductive liquids. It measures the conductivity of a material where a current of one ampere is conducted through a material one centimeter in length under the influence of one volt.

Mho per Centimeter (℧/cm)

1 ℧/cm = 1 S/cm

Similar to Siemens per centimeter, mho per centimeter quantifies the conductivity of materials, particularly in liquid or solution form, facilitating precise measurements in electrochemistry and related fields.

Conversion of Conductivity Units

Here is a table format for the conversion factors between different units of conductivity, such as Siemens per meter (S/m), Siemens per centimeter (S/cm), and their reciprocal values in Mho per meter (℧/m) and Mho per centimeter (℧/cm). These units are essentially equivalent but are presented to match your request:

Unit	Siemens per meter (S/m)	Siemens per centimeter (S/cm)	Mho per meter (℧/m)	Mho per centimeter (℧/cm)
Siemens per meter (S/m)	1	100	1	100
Siemens per centimeter (S/cm)	0.01	1	0.01	1
Mho per meter (℧/m)	1	100	1	100
Mho per centimeter (℧/cm)	0.01	1	0.01	1

Siemens per Meter to Siemens per Centimeter

• Conversion: 1 Siemens per centimeter (S/cm) = 100 Siemens per meter (S/m).
• Example: To convert 2 S/m to S/cm, divide by 100.
  2 S/m / 100 = 0.02 S/cm

Siemens per Meter to Mho per Meter

• Conversion: 1 Mho per meter (℧/m) = 1 Siemens per meter (S/m).
• Example: To convert 50 S/m to ℧/m, multiply by 1.
  50 S/m × 1 = 50 ℧/m

Siemens per Meter to Mho per Centimeter

• Conversion: 1 Mho per centimeter (℧/cm) = 100 Siemens per meter (S/m).
• Example: To convert 100,000 S/m to ℧/cm, divide by 100.
  100,000 S/m / 100 = 1000 ℧/cm

Siemens per Centimeter to Siemens per Meter

• Conversion: 1 Siemens per meter (S/m) = 0.01 Siemens per centimeter (S/cm).
• Example: To convert 5 S/cm to S/m, multiply by 100.
  5 S/cm × 100 = 500 S/m

Siemens per Centimeter to Mho per Meter

• Conversion: 1 Mho per meter (℧/m) = 0.01 Siemens per centimeter (S/cm).
• Example: To convert 8 S/cm to ℧/m, multiply by 100.
  8 S/cm × 100 = 800 ℧/m

Siemens per Centimeter to Mho per Centimeter

• Conversion: 1 Mho per centimeter (℧/cm) = 1 Siemens per centimeter (S/cm).
• Example: To convert 10 S/cm to ℧/cm, multiply by 1.
  10 S/cm × 1 = 10 ℧/cm

Mho per Meter to Siemens per Meter

• Conversion: 1 Siemens per meter (S/m) = 1 Mho per meter (℧/m).
• Example: To convert 20 ℧/m to S/m, multiply by 1.
  20 ℧/m × 1 = 20 S/m

Mho per Meter to Siemens per Centimeter

• Conversion: 1 Siemens per centimeter (S/cm) = 0.01 Mho per meter (℧/m).
• Example: To convert 15 ℧/m to S/cm, multiply by 100.
  15 ℧/m × 100 = 1500 S/cm

Mho per Centimeter to Siemens per Meter

• Conversion: 1 Siemens per meter (S/m) = 0.01 Mho per centimeter (℧/cm).
• Example: To convert 30 ℧/cm to S/m, multiply by 100.
  30 ℧/cm × 100 = 3000 S/m

FAQ’S

What is the unit of specific conductivity?

Specific conductivity is measured in Siemens per meter (S/m), reflecting how well a material conducts electricity per unit length.

What is conductivity measured in?

Conductivity is quantified in Siemens per meter (S/m), ensuring accurate measurement of a material’s ability to conduct electrical current.

What is the symbol of conductivity?

The symbol for conductivity is σ (sigma), commonly used in formulas to represent the electrical conductivity of materials.