The basic units of mass in the metric system are the gram (g) and kilogram (kg). The kilogram is defined as the base unit of mass in the International System of Units (SI).
To break it down:
- Gram (g): The gram is a metric unit of mass equal to one one-thousandth of a kilogram. It is often used for measuring small quantities of mass, such as food products or chemical substances.
- Kilogram (kg): The kilogram is the largest base unit of mass in the metric system. It is used as a standard for a wide range of applications, including science, engineering, and everyday life.
In addition to these, there are other units of mass that are derived from the kilogram, such as the milligram (mg) which is one-thousandth of a gram, and the metric ton, which is equal to 1,000 kilograms. In practice, mass can also be measured in other systems such as pounds (lbs) and ounces (oz) in the imperial system, but these are not part of the basic metric units.