Picocurie (pCi)
One trillionth of a curie: exactly 0.037 Bq. US radon levels are given in pCi/L.
What is a picocurie?
- Symbol
- pCi
- Quantity
- Radioactivity
- Unit system
- other
- Definition
- One trillionth of a curie: exactly 0.037 Bq. US radon levels are given in pCi/L.
- Exact
- Yes, the value is exact by definition
- Source
- NIST Special Publication 811 (2008), Appendix B.8
Common applications
Used in the United States for radon in indoor air (pCi/L) and for radioactivity in drinking water.
Picocurie in other radioactivity units
- 1 pCi = 0.037 BqPicocurie to Becquerel converter
- 1 pCi = 0.000037 kBqKilobecquerel
- 1 pCi = 3.7e-8 MBqMegabecquerel
- 1 pCi = 3.7e-11 GBqGigabecquerel
- 1 pCi = 3.7e-14 TBqTerabecquerel
- 1 pCi = 1e-12 CiCurie
- 1 pCi = 1e-9 mCiMillicurie
- 1 pCi = 0.000001 µCiMicrocurie
- 1 pCi = 3.7e-8 RdRutherford
- 1 pCi = 2.22 dpmDisintegration per minute
Picocurie quick reference
| Picocurie | Becquerel | Gigabecquerel | Curie |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 pCi | = 0.037 Bq | = 3.7e-11 GBq | = 1e-12 Ci |
| 10 pCi | = 0.37 Bq | = 3.7e-10 GBq | = 1e-11 Ci |
| 100 pCi | = 3.7 Bq | = 3.7e-9 GBq | = 1e-10 Ci |
| 1000 pCi | = 37 Bq | = 3.7e-8 GBq | = 1e-9 Ci |
Where the picocurie fits
The next smaller radioactivity unit is the disintegration per minute (dpm). 1 pCi = 2.22 dpm, and 1 dpm ≈ 0.4504504505 pCi.
The next larger radioactivity unit is the becquerel (Bq). 1 pCi = 0.037 Bq, and 1 Bq ≈ 27.02702703 pCi.
Frequently asked questions
- How many becquerels are in one picocurie?
- One picocurie = 0.037 Bq (becquerels).
- How many gigabecquerels are in one picocurie?
- One picocurie = 3.7e-11 GBq (gigabecquerels).
- How many curies are in one picocurie?
- One picocurie = 1e-12 Ci (curies).