Convert Apothecary Ounces to Scruples
Convert Apothecary Ounces (oz ap) to Scruples (s ap) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
s ap = oz ap × 24
About Apothecary Ounces
An apothecary ounce (oz ap) is identical in mass to the troy ounce - approximately 31.10 grams - and equals 8 apothecary drams or 480 grains. It was the standard ounce used by pharmacists and physicians across Europe and North America from medieval times until the 20th century. Although the apothecary system has been replaced by SI units in modern medicine, the apothecary ounce still appears in historical pharmacopeias, traditional herbal medicine texts, and some compounding pharmacy references.
About Scruples
A scruple (s ap) is a unit of the apothecary weight system equal to 20 grains or approximately 1.296 grams. Derived from the Latin 'scrupulus' (a small sharp stone used as a counterweight), it was the basic dispensing unit in pre-metric pharmacy across Europe. The apothecary system divided the fluid ounce into 8 drams, each dram into 3 scruples, and each scruple into 20 grains - a hierarchy memorised by every 19th-century pharmacist.
Quick Reference Table
| Apothecary Ounces (oz ap) | Scruples (s ap) |
|---|---|
| 1 oz ap | 24 s ap |
| 2 oz ap | 48 s ap |
| 5 oz ap | 120 s ap |
| 10 oz ap | 240 s ap |
| 25 oz ap | 600 s ap |
| 50 oz ap | 1200 s ap |
| 100 oz ap | 2400 s ap |