One nanometre equals exactly 10 ångströms (Å). The conversion is: nm × 10 = Å; Å / 10 = nm. Both units describe atomic and molecular dimensions. The nanometre has largely replaced the ångström in modern scientific literature, but crystallographers and spectroscopists still regularly use ångströms. X-ray wavelengths used in diffraction crystallography fall between 0.5–2.5 Å (0.05–0.25 nm).
Key size references: a hydrogen atom has a Bohr radius of 0.529 Å = 0.0529 nm; a water molecule is about 2.75 Å = 0.275 nm in diameter; a typical protein is 1–10 nm = 10–100 Å; a ribosome is ≈ 20 nm = 200 Å; a typical virus is 20–300 nm = 200–3000 Å. Visible light spans 380–700 nm (3800–7000 Å). This scale — the nanoscale — is the domain of nanotechnology, biochemistry, and semiconductor physics.
Nanometres to Ångströms
nm
Å
Scientific Context
0.053
0.53
Hydrogen Bohr radius
0.1
1
Small molecule bond
0.275
2.75
Water molecule
1
10
Large molecule
10
100
Protein domain
100
1000
HIV virus diameter
400
4000
Violet light lower
700
7000
Red light upper
Nanometers to Angstroms in Spectroscopy and Materials Science
Multiplying nanometers by 10 converts to angstroms. Modern semiconductor fabrication node sizes are quoted in nanometers (e.g., 3 nm process node = 30 Å). Optical coating thicknesses for anti-reflection films, thin-film solar cells, and LED layers are specified in nanometers. Electron microscopy resolution is stated in nanometers or even picometers for atomic-resolution instruments. Spectroscopy peaks for UV-visible absorption are commonly given in nanometers in biochemistry (e.g., hemoglobin absorbs at 541 nm and 576 nm), while older X-ray diffraction data uses angstroms. The conversion factor of 10 is exact: 1 nm = 10 Å. Both units describe lengths far too small to see, measure, or perceive directly; context from the specific scientific discipline determines which unit is most convenient for communication and calculation within that field.
