Volume is defined as length cubed and has the SI unit of cabed meter (m3). This is too large a unit for normal laboratory work, so we use either cabic decimeters (dm3) or cubic centimeters (cm3, also written cc). Traditionally, chemists have used the liter (L), which is equal to a cubic decimeter, as the unit of volume. In fact, most laboratory glassware is calibrated in liters or milliliters (1000 mL = 1L). Because 1 cabic decimeter = 1000 cubic centimeters , a milliliter is equivalent to a cabic centimeter.