This document lists common substances and structures along with their sizes measured in centimeters, micrometers, nanometers, and angstroms. It shows that the sizes of atoms, molecules, organelles, cells, and organs can range from small fractions of a nanometer to over a meter. For example, hydrogen is about 1 angstrom in size while a kidney is around 12x6x4 centimeters or 1.2 billion nanometers across. This wide range demonstrates how measurement scales often need to change across the breadth of biology and materials science.

1. Substance Size / cm Size / μm Size / nm
Size / Angstrom
(Å)
Hydrogen 1.2×10-8 1.2×10-4 0.12 1.2
C-C Bond Length
1.54 × 10-8 1.54 × 10-4
(alkane)
0.154
1.54
Silicon atom 2.1×10-8 2.1×10-4 0.21 2.1
The equilibrium
separation of sodium
chloride
2.4 × 10-8 2.4 × 10-4 0.24 2.4
Water 2.75×10-8 2.75×10-4 0.275 2.75
Carbon atom 3.4×10-8 3.4×10-4 0.34 3.4
Average core diameter
of gold nanoparticles
prepared by the Brust
Schiffrin approach
1.0 × 10-7 1.0 × 10-3 1 10
Methionine (amino
acid)
1.1×10-7 x
7.0×10-8
1.1×10-3 x
7×10-4 1.1 x 0.7 11x7
Adenine
1.3×10-7 x
7.6×10-8
1.3×10-3 x
7.6×10-4 1.3 x 0.76 13 x 7.6
Phospholipid
3.4×10-7 x
9.0×10-8
3.4×10-3 x
9×10-4 3.4 x 0.9 34x9
Haemoglobin 6.5×10-14 6.5×10-10 6.5 65
Red Blood Cell 8×10-3 8 8000 80,000
Size of a typical human
cell
1.0 × 10-3 10 10000 100,000
Neurone
0.01 x
4×10-4 100x4
100,000 x
4000
1,000,000x40,000
Kidney ~12x6x4
120,000x60,0
00x40,000
120,000,000
x 60,000,000
x 40,000,000
1,200,000,000 x
600,000,000x
400,000,000
1.28 x
1.36x
1.14x
1.14x
1.24x
2.94x
1,000,000,000 x bigger!
1.1x
1.18x
2.62x
1.91x
1230x
1.25x
10x
1200x