Ounce to Milligram Converter

An ounce (oz) is a unit of mass in the imperial and US customary systems, equal to 1/16 of a pound or approximately 28.35 grams. The avoirdupois ounce is the most common variant.

The ounce derives from the Roman 'uncia' meaning 'twelfth part', originally 1/12 of a Roman pound. The avoirdupois ounce evolved from medieval English trade weights and was standardized as part of the imperial system. It was internationally defined as exactly 28.349523125 grams in 1959.

Ounces are commonly used in the United States for measuring food portions, postal weights, precious metals, and small consumer products. They're standard for nutrition labels, recipe measurements, jewelry, and in retail for products sold by weight in imperial system countries.

A milligram (mg) is a unit of mass in the metric system equal to one-thousandth of a gram (0.001 g) or one-millionth of a kilogram. It is used for measuring very small quantities.

The milligram was developed as part of the metric system's decimal structure, with the prefix 'milli-' from the Latin word 'mille' meaning 'thousand'. It became essential as precision in medicine and chemistry advanced, requiring accurate measurement of very small quantities.

Milligrams are crucial in pharmaceutical applications for drug dosages, vitamin and supplement measurements, and in chemistry for precise laboratory work. They're standard for measuring active ingredients in medications, nutritional supplements, and trace elements in food and water analysis.