Preparation of creams MCQs With Answer

Preparation of creams MCQs With Answer provides B.Pharm students a focused, practical review of topical formulation principles used in preparing creams. This resource covers key concepts such as cream types (O/W, W/O), emulsifiers and their HLB values, phase inversion, homogenization, excipients, preservatives, rheology modifiers, stability testing, and quality control parameters like viscosity, spreadability, pH, and microbial limits. Emphasis is placed on manufacturing methods, troubleshooting common instability (coalescence, creaming), and factors affecting drug release and percutaneous absorption. These MCQs reinforce formulation strategy, analytical evaluation, and regulatory considerations to prepare students for lab work and exams. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. Which emulsion type is most commonly used for non-greasy, easily washable creams intended for hydrophilic drug delivery?

• Water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion
• Oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion
• Microemulsion
• Anhydrous ointment base

Correct Answer: Oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion

Q2. The HLB value is used to select suitable surfactants. Which HLB range is generally ideal for stabilizing an oil-in-water cream?

• 3–6
• 8–16
• 16–20
• 0–2

Correct Answer: 8–16

Q3. During cream manufacture, which process step primarily reduces droplet size to improve stability and skin feel?

• Mixing by spatula
• Homogenization
• Heating to melt phases
• Cooling at room temperature

Correct Answer: Homogenization

Q4. Phase inversion temperature (PIT) concept is most relevant to which class of emulsifiers?

• Non-ionic ethoxylated surfactants
• Anionic surfactants
• Cationic surfactants
• Amphoteric surfactants

Correct Answer: Non-ionic ethoxylated surfactants

Q5. Which excipient is commonly added to creams to increase viscosity and provide pseudoplastic rheology?

• Glycerin
• Carbomer
• Sodium chloride
• Propylene glycol

Correct Answer: Carbomer

Q6. For preserving aqueous creams, which preservative combination is widely used due to broad-spectrum activity?

• Parabens (methylparaben + propylparaben)
• Citric acid only
• EDTA only
• Glyceryl monostearate

Correct Answer: Parabens (methylparaben + propylparaben)

Q7. Which stability failure describes the upward migration of dispersed droplets in a cream?

• Coalescence
• Flocculation
• Creaming
• Phase inversion

Correct Answer: Creaming

Q8. In an O/W cream, increasing the internal (oil) phase fraction beyond the optimum typically leads to which instability?

• Viscosity decrease
• Phase inversion to W/O
• Reduced occlusion
• Improved spreadability

Correct Answer: Phase inversion to W/O

Q9. Which test evaluates the ease of removal of a cream and is important for washability and patient acceptability?

• Spreadability test
• pH measurement
• Washability test
• Viscosity measurement

Correct Answer: Washability test

Q10. For topical corticosteroid creams, which property most directly influences percutaneous absorption of the drug?

• Color of the cream
• Viscosity only
• Thermodynamic activity and partitioning into skin
• Manufacturing batch size

Correct Answer: Thermodynamic activity and partitioning into skin

Q11. Which method is commonly used to prepare creams when both oil and aqueous phases require heating to melt components?

• Cold method
• Hot/hot emulsification
• Solvent evaporation
• Lyophilization

Correct Answer: Hot/hot emulsification

Q12. Which parameter is assessed by Brookfield viscometer during cream evaluation?

• Particle size distribution
• Viscosity and flow behavior
• Moisture content
• Microbial load

Correct Answer: Viscosity and flow behavior

Q13. Which additive in creams acts primarily as a humectant to retain moisture on the skin?

• Mineral oil
• Urea
• Beeswax
• Stearic acid

Correct Answer: Urea

Q14. Which in vitro test predicts the drug release rate from a semisolid cream?

• Franz diffusion cell study
• pH meter reading
• Colorimetric assay for preservatives
• Glass transition temperature

Correct Answer: Franz diffusion cell study

Q15. Which microbial specification is critical for non-sterile creams intended for topical application?

• Total aerobic microbial count limits and absence of specific pathogens
• Sterility assurance level of 10^-6
• Endotoxin limit only
• No testing required for topical products

Correct Answer: Total aerobic microbial count limits and absence of specific pathogens

Q16. Which cream base ingredient provides emollient and occlusive properties to reduce transepidermal water loss?

• Propylene glycol
• Mineral oil
• Sodium lauryl sulfate
• Triethanolamine

Correct Answer: Mineral oil

Q17. Emulsifier selection often depends on drug polarity. For a hydrophobic drug, which approach enhances its solubilization in an O/W cream?

• Use only water soluble polymers
• Solubilize drug in oil phase with lipophilic surfactant or co-solvent
• Avoid any oil phase
• Add high concentration of preservative

Correct Answer: Solubilize drug in oil phase with lipophilic surfactant or co-solvent

Q18. Which phenomenon indicates irreversible merging of oil droplets, often leading to droplet growth and product failure?

• Flocculation
• Coalescence
• Creaming
• Ostwald ripening

Correct Answer: Coalescence

Q19. Which pH range is generally considered safe and non-irritating for most topical creams applied to intact skin?

• 2.0–3.0
• 4.5–6.5
• 8.5–9.5
• 10.0–11.0

Correct Answer: 4.5–6.5

Q20. Which cream testing parameter is essential to evaluate the thermodynamic stability and predict long-term stability under stress?

• Accelerated stability testing including freeze-thaw cycles and centrifugation
• Only visual color check
• Only microbial testing at room temperature
• Only pH measurement

Correct Answer: Accelerated stability testing including freeze-thaw cycles and centrifugation

Q21. When designing a medicated cream, which regulatory consideration directly affects preservative choice and concentration?

• Thermal conductivity of the cream
• Allowed preservatives and maximum concentrations in pharmacopeia/regulatory guidelines
• Color matching with competitor products
• Packaging artwork

Correct Answer: Allowed preservatives and maximum concentrations in pharmacopeia/regulatory guidelines

Q22. Which rheological behavior is desirable in creams to allow easy spreading under shear but maintain shape at rest?

• Newtonian behavior
• Pseudoplastic (shear-thinning) with thixotropy
• Dilatant (shear-thickening)
• Perfect plasticity without yield

Correct Answer: Pseudoplastic (shear-thinning) with thixotropy

Q23. Which analytical technique is most appropriate for measuring dispersed droplet size distribution in creams?

• High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
• Laser diffraction or dynamic light scattering
• Gas chromatography
• UV–Vis spectroscopy

Correct Answer: Laser diffraction or dynamic light scattering

Q24. What is the main role of chelating agents like EDTA in topical creams?

• Act as primary emulsifier
• Enhance fragrance retention
• Bind metal ions to improve preservative efficacy and stability
• Increase oil phase viscosity

Correct Answer: Bind metal ions to improve preservative efficacy and stability

Q25. Which packaging attribute is most critical to protect cream formulations from microbial contamination and oxidation?

• Transparent glass jars only
• Airless pump or tube with minimal headspace
• Large open-mouth containers for easy access
• Thin paper wraps

Correct Answer: Airless pump or tube with minimal headspace

Q26. In compatibility testing, which excipient interaction could reduce preservative efficacy in creams?

• Interaction with surfactants or high levels of chelators that sequester preservative
• Use of aromatic fragrances only
• Adding colorants at low ppm levels
• Using distilled water for aqueous phase

Correct Answer: Interaction with surfactants or high levels of chelators that sequester preservative

Q27. Which manufacturing scale-up parameter must be carefully controlled to maintain droplet size when moving from lab to production?

• Color of mixing vessel
• Energy input and shear profile during homogenization
• Label printing method
• Room lighting

Correct Answer: Energy input and shear profile during homogenization

Q28. Which type of cream provides enhanced occlusion and is preferred for dry, xerotic skin conditions?

• Hydrophilic O/W cream
• Highly occlusive W/O cream or ointment-like cream
• Alcohol-based gel
• Powder formulation

Correct Answer: Highly occlusive W/O cream or ointment-like cream

Q29. Which measurement helps predict the sensory attribute “skin feel” of a cream formulation?

• Particle size distribution, viscosity, and oil phase composition
• Only microbial count
• Only the colorimetric value
• Only the drug assay

Correct Answer: Particle size distribution, viscosity, and oil phase composition

Q30. For a cream containing an oxidizable drug, which formulation strategy best improves chemical stability?

• Exclude antioxidants and minimize dissolved oxygen by de-aeration and using antioxidants like BHT
• Increase water content indefinitely
• Use transparent packaging with large headspace
• Add more surfactant without antioxidants

Correct Answer: Exclude antioxidants and minimize dissolved oxygen by de-aeration and using antioxidants like BHT

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