Quality control tests of tablets MCQs With Answer help B.Pharm students build a strong foundation in tablet evaluation, analytical procedures, and regulatory expectations. This focused set emphasizes key keywords: dissolution testing, disintegration, hardness, friability, weight variation, content uniformity, assay (HPLC/UV), stability testing, dissolution media, pharmacopeial limits, and similarity factor (f2). Questions are designed to deepen understanding of instrumentation (paddle/basket apparatus, friabilators, hardness testers), sampling strategies, analytical methods, and interpretation of QC data. These MCQs bridge theory and practical QC practice to prepare you for exams and lab decision-making. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. Which quality control test measures the time taken for a tablet to break down into particles suitable for dissolution?
- Hardness test
- Disintegration test
- Dissolution test
- Friability test
Correct Answer: Disintegration test
Q2. Which apparatus is designated as USP Apparatus II for dissolution testing?
- Basket apparatus
- Paddle apparatus
- Flow-through cell
- Reciprocating cylinder
Correct Answer: Paddle apparatus
Q3. Which QC test evaluates mechanical strength of a tablet by measuring the force required to crush it?
- Friability
- Hardness
- Weight variation
- Content uniformity
Correct Answer: Hardness
Q4. Which instrument is commonly used to assess tablet friability?
- Roche friabilator
- UV-visible spectrophotometer
- Disintegration tester
- HPLC system
Correct Answer: Roche friabilator
Q5. What is the main objective of a dissolution test in tablet QC?
- Measure moisture content
- Determine tablet thickness
- Evaluate rate and extent of drug release
- Assess microbial contamination
Correct Answer: Evaluate rate and extent of drug release
Q6. Which test ensures each tablet contains the intended drug amount within specified limits for low-dose potent drugs?
- Weight variation
- Assay of bulk powder
- Content uniformity
- Friability
Correct Answer: Content uniformity
Q7. Which analytical technique provides the highest specificity for assay of a drug substance in tablet QC?
- UV-visible spectrophotometry
- Thin-layer chromatography
- High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
- Colorimetric test
Correct Answer: High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
Q8. Which test detects weight loss due to abrasion or handling and is reported as percentage weight loss?
- Hardness test
- Friability test
- Disintegration test
- Assay
Correct Answer: Friability test
Q9. Which of the following is a common dissolution medium pH used to simulate intestinal fluid?
- pH 1.2
- pH 4.5
- pH 6.8
- pH 9.0
Correct Answer: pH 6.8
Q10. Which QC test directly quantifies the total active pharmaceutical ingredient in a tablet?
- Thickness measurement
- Assay
- Disintegration
- Friability
Correct Answer: Assay
Q11. Which phenomenon in tablets is most likely to be revealed by a high friability value?
- Excessive hardness
- Poor mechanical integrity (chipping, abrasion)
- Incorrect potency
- Incorrect dissolution medium
Correct Answer: Poor mechanical integrity (chipping, abrasion)
Q12. Which factor most directly influences dissolution rate of a tablet?
- Tablet color
- Particle size of active ingredient
- Labeling information
- Ambient room lighting
Correct Answer: Particle size of active ingredient
Q13. The similarity factor f2 is used to compare dissolution profiles. An f2 value of 50 or greater generally indicates what?
- Profiles are dissimilar
- Profiles are identical in every point
- Profiles are similar
- Profiles are unacceptable
Correct Answer: Profiles are similar
Q14. Which QC test uses a basket-rack assembly as per pharmacopeial methods?
- Disintegration test
- Dissolution test using USP I
- Hardness test
- Friability test
Correct Answer: Dissolution test using USP I
Q15. Which of the following assesses uniformity of mass across individual tablets in a batch?
- Content uniformity
- Weight variation test
- Assay by HPLC
- Moisture content
Correct Answer: Weight variation test
Q16. Which sample analysis technique is commonly used to quantify drug dissolved during a dissolution test?
- Gravimetric analysis
- UV-visible spectrophotometry or HPLC
- Microscopy
- pH meter
Correct Answer: UV-visible spectrophotometry or HPLC
Q17. Which QC parameter assesses moisture present in tablets and can affect stability?
- Hardness
- Loss on drying
- Friability
- Disintegration
Correct Answer: Loss on drying
Q18. Enteric-coated tablets are designed to remain intact in which environment?
- High pH intestinal fluid
- Low pH gastric fluid
- Neutral pH blood plasma
- High ionic strength media
Correct Answer: Low pH gastric fluid
Q19. Which QC test would best detect content non-uniformity caused by poor mixing of active ingredient?
- Thickness measurement
- Content uniformity test
- Friability test
- Disintegration test
Correct Answer: Content uniformity test
Q20. Microbial limit tests for tablets are primarily intended to assess what?
- Chemical potency
- Microbial contamination levels in non-sterile products
- Tablet color uniformity
- Hardness distribution
Correct Answer: Microbial contamination levels in non-sterile products
Q21. Which factor is NOT typically evaluated during routine tablet QC?
- Dissolution
- Assay
- Content uniformity
- Patient adherence monitoring
Correct Answer: Patient adherence monitoring
Q22. Which method is most suitable to separate and quantify degradation products and impurities in a tablet assay?
- Thin-layer chromatography (qualitative)
- HPLC with appropriate detection
- Visual inspection
- Tablet thickness measurement
Correct Answer: HPLC with appropriate detection
Q23. Which QC attribute is most directly affected by insufficient lubrication during tablet compression?
- Content uniformity
- Sticking and picking defects
- Assay potency
- Dissolution medium pH
Correct Answer: Sticking and picking defects
Q24. In dissolution testing, which of these is a common standard volume used for paddle apparatus?
- 100 mL
- 500 mL
- 900 mL
- 5000 mL
Correct Answer: 900 mL
Q25. Which test outcome would suggest that a tablet batch may have stability problems under accelerated conditions?
- Unchanged dissolution and assay
- Significant assay loss and increased impurities
- Improved hardness over time
- Reduced friability without potency change
Correct Answer: Significant assay loss and increased impurities
Q26. What is the primary purpose of visual inspection in tablet QC?
- Quantify active ingredient
- Detect physical defects like chips, cracks, discoloration
- Measure dissolution rate
- Determine moisture content
Correct Answer: Detect physical defects like chips, cracks, discoloration
Q27. Which property of excipients can significantly influence tablet dissolution profile?
- Excipient color
- Excipient solubility and binder level
- Coating machine brand
- Label font size
Correct Answer: Excipient solubility and binder level
Q28. Which technique is commonly used to prepare dissolution samples for HPLC analysis?
- Direct plating of tablets
- Filtration and dilution into mobile phase
- Lyophilization of dissolution medium
- Microscopy of undissolved residue
Correct Answer: Filtration and dilution into mobile phase
Q29. A tablet shows high variability in individual unit assay results; which of the following is the most likely cause?
- Accurate HPLC calibration
- Poor content mixing or segregation during manufacturing
- Proper granulation process
- Uniform tablet coating
Correct Answer: Poor content mixing or segregation during manufacturing
Q30. Which QC test would you perform to confirm that coated tablets will not release drug in stomach but release in intestine?
- Hardness test
- Enteric coating dissolution test at sequential pH
- Friability test
- Weight variation
Correct Answer: Enteric coating dissolution test at sequential pH
