Almost every length scale used in science is based on the meter. Chemistry frequently deals with very small lengths, so while you’re probably familiar with millimeters (10−3 m), it’s hard to have an intuitive sense about just how small a nanometer (10−9 m) is. There’s another length scale commonly used when talking about chemical bonds—the Ångström. An Ångström (Å) is one ten-billionth of a meter (10−10 m). The lengths of chemical bonds vary depending on the elements and other factors, but are usually around 1–2 Å.
