Editing Lambda (unit)

{{Short description|Unit of volume}}
{{Infobox unit
| bgcolor      = 
| name         = lambda
| image        = 
| caption      = 
| standard     = Non-SI metric unit
| quantity     = [[Volume]]
| symbol       = λ
| symbol2      = 
| symbol3      = 
| extralabel   = 
| extradata    = 
| units1       = SI base units
| inunits1     = {{val|e=-9|u=m3}}
| units2       = Units accepted for use with SI
| inunits2     = {{val|1|u=μL}}
}}
'''Lambda''' (written λ, in lowercase) is a non-[[International System of Units|SI]] unit of [[volume]] equal to 10<sup>−9</sup>&nbsp;[[cubic meter|m<sup>3</sup>]], 1 cubic millimetre (mm<sup>3</sup>) or 1 microlitre (μL). Introduced by the [[International Bureau of Weights and Measures|BIPM]] in 1880,<ref>Donald Fenna (2002), ''A Dictionary of Weights, Measures, and Units'', Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|0198605226}}, [https://books.google.com/books?id=RZfGWl-RCQcC&pg=PA153 p. 153.]</ref> the lambda has been used in chemistry<ref>
{{cite web 
| title = Units: L |publisher=University of North Carolina
| url = https://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/units/dictL.html 
| accessdate = 2015-03-28 
 }}
</ref> and in law for measuring volume, but its use is not recommended.<ref>Carl A. Burtis and David E. BrunsTietz (2014), ''Fundamentals of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics'', 7th ed., Elsevier Health Sciences, {{ISBN|0323292062}}, [https://books.google.com/books?id=p7XwAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA114 p. 114.]</ref>

This use of λ parallels the pre-SI use of μ on its own for a [[micrometre]] and γ for a [[microgram]].<ref>Lela Buckingham (2014), ''Fundamental Laboratory Mathematics: Required Calculations for the Medical Laboratory Professional'', F. A. Davis, {{ISBN|0803641028}}, [https://books.google.com/books?id=VPbuAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA48 p. 48.]</ref><ref>I. P. Alimarin and M. N. Petrikova (2013), ''Inorganic Ultramicroanalysis'', Elsevier, {{ISBN|1483150488}}, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Jl79BAAAQBAJ&pg=PR14 p. xiv.]</ref> Although the use of λ is deprecated, some clinical laboratories continue to use it.<ref>Barbara H. Estridge, Anna P. Reynolds, and Norma J. Walters (2000), ''Basic Medical Laboratory Techniques'', 4th ed., Cengage Learning, {{ISBN|0766812065}}, [https://books.google.com/books?id=qMgAbOHSlsMC&pg=PA32 p. 32.]</ref> The standard abbreviation μL for a microlitre has the disadvantage that it can be misread as mL (a unit 1000 times larger). In pharmaceutical use, no abbreviation for a microlitre is considered safe. The recommended practice is to write "microlitre" in full.<ref>Chris Langley and Yvonne Perrie (2014), ''Maths Skills for Pharmacy: Unlocking Pharmaceutical Calculations'', Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|019968071X}}, [https://books.google.com/books?id=n4OXBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA55 p. 55.]</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Units of volume]]
[[Category:Customary units of measurement]]
[[Category:Typographical symbols]]
[[Category:Non-SI metric units]]


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