Pharmaceutical liquids are crucial dosage forms that provide flexibility in drug delivery. They include true solutions, suspensions, emulsions, and syrups—each designed for different therapeutic needs. These forms offer benefits such as ease of swallowing, rapid onset, and dose flexibility, making them ideal for pediatric and geriatric patients. This MCQ quiz covers classifications, advantages, excipients, preparation, and stability of pharmaceutical liquids.
1. Which of the following is a true solution?
- A. Oral suspension
- B. Emulsion
- C. Syrup with dissolved API
- D. Ointment
Correct answer: C. Syrup with dissolved API
2. Suspensions are best used when the drug is:
- A. Water soluble
- B. Insoluble in the desired vehicle
- C. A gas
- D. Volatile
Correct answer: B. Insoluble in the desired vehicle
3. An emulsion consists of:
- A. One solid dispersed in another solid
- B. A gas dispersed in liquid
- C. Two immiscible liquids, one dispersed as droplets in the other
- D. A liquid in a capsule
Correct answer: C. Two immiscible liquids, one dispersed as droplets in the other
4. Which of the following is a vehicle commonly used in oral liquid formulations?
- A. Ethanol
- B. Propylene glycol
- C. Purified water
- D. Petrolatum
Correct answer: C. Purified water
5. A thickened, sweetened liquid containing dissolved drug is called a:
- A. Solution
- B. Suspension
- C. Syrup
- D. Emulsion
Correct answer: C. Syrup
6. Which of the following is NOT a type of liquid dosage form?
- A. Suspension
- B. Emulsion
- C. Capsule
- D. Solution
Correct answer: C. Capsule
7. What is the primary purpose of a suspending agent?
- A. Enhance taste
- B. Maintain uniform dispersion of insoluble particles
- C. Increase solubility
- D. Prevent foaming
Correct answer: B. Maintain uniform dispersion of insoluble particles
8. A liquid with fine solid particles suspended uniformly is a:
- A. Solution
- B. Suspension
- C. Syrup
- D. Tincture
Correct answer: B. Suspension
9. A preservative is added to liquid dosage forms to:
- A. Enhance color
- B. Prevent microbial growth
- C. Increase viscosity
- D. Improve solubility
Correct answer: B. Prevent microbial growth
10. Which liquid dosage form requires shaking before use?
- A. Solution
- B. Suspension
- C. Syrup
- D. Elixir
Correct answer: B. Suspension
11. Which of the following is an oral liquid with alcohol as the main solvent?
- A. Syrup
- B. Elixir
- C. Suspension
- D. Lotion
Correct answer: B. Elixir
12. What is the function of an emulsifying agent?
- A. Dissolve solids
- B. Increase taste
- C. Stabilize immiscible liquids
- D. Reduce viscosity
Correct answer: C. Stabilize immiscible liquids
13. Why is flavoring important in oral liquid medications?
- A. For solubility
- B. To enhance flow properties
- C. To improve palatability and compliance
- D. To act as preservative
Correct answer: C. To improve palatability and compliance
14. Which oral liquid is typically sugar-free and designed for diabetic patients?
- A. Suspension
- B. Sugar syrup
- C. Solution
- D. Sugar-free syrup
Correct answer: D. Sugar-free syrup
15. What is the major stability concern in emulsions?
- A. Alcohol content
- B. Phase separation (creaming or cracking)
- C. pH
- D. Particle size
Correct answer: B. Phase separation (creaming or cracking)
16. Oral rehydration solutions (ORS) are classified as:
- A. Emulsions
- B. Suspensions
- C. Aqueous solutions containing electrolytes and sugars
- D. Elixirs
Correct answer: C. Aqueous solutions containing electrolytes and sugars
17. In liquid dosage forms, viscosity can be increased by adding:
- A. Preservatives
- B. Polymers like methylcellulose
- C. Ethanol
- D. Water
Correct answer: B. Polymers like methylcellulose
18. The pH of a liquid formulation may affect:
- A. Packaging
- B. Color only
- C. Drug solubility and stability
- D. Dosage frequency
Correct answer: C. Drug solubility and stability
19. Which of the following is an advantage of oral liquids over tablets?
- A. Better taste
- B. Higher cost
- C. Faster onset and easy administration
- D. No need for preservatives
Correct answer: C. Faster onset and easy administration
20. Which liquid is applied topically for skin cleansing or disinfection?
- A. Lotion
- B. Elixir
- C. Syrup
- D. Emulsion
Correct answer: A. Lotion
21. What type of liquid must be shaken to ensure dose uniformity?
- A. Oral solution
- B. Emulsion
- C. Parenteral solution
- D. Syrup
Correct answer: B. Emulsion
22. Why are antioxidants added to liquid formulations?
- A. Enhance absorption
- B. Prevent oxidation of APIs
- C. Act as sweeteners
- D. Increase fluidity
Correct answer: B. Prevent oxidation of APIs
23. A cloudy oral liquid usually indicates a:
- A. True solution
- B. Suspension or emulsion
- C. Volatile product
- D. Sublingual dosage form
Correct answer: B. Suspension or emulsion
24. Liquid formulations for pediatric use should be:
- A. Alcohol-based
- B. Highly concentrated
- C. Sugar-free or sweetened, palatable, and easy to measure
- D. Not flavored
Correct answer: C. Sugar-free or sweetened, palatable, and easy to measure
25. What is the primary disadvantage of liquid dosage forms?
- A. Inaccurate dosing
- B. Cost
- C. Increased patient satisfaction
- D. Low potency
Correct answer: A. Inaccurate dosing
26. A syrup must contain at least how much sucrose to be self-preserving?
- A. 5%
- B. 25%
- C. 65% or more
- D. 90%
Correct answer: C. 65% or more
27. What is the function of buffers in liquid formulations?
- A. Act as sweeteners
- B. Maintain a stable pH
- C. Improve color
- D. Enhance viscosity
Correct answer: B. Maintain a stable pH
28. An aromatic, sweetened, alcoholic solution is called a:
- A. Lotion
- B. Elixir
- C. Syrup
- D. Emulsion
Correct answer: B. Elixir
29. Aqueous oral solutions should be stored:
- A. In open containers
- B. At room temperature, tightly closed
- C. In freezing temperatures
- D. Under sunlight
Correct answer: B. At room temperature, tightly closed
30. When a drug dissolves completely in the solvent, it forms a:
- A. Suspension
- B. Solution
- C. Emulsion
- D. Gel
Correct answer: B. Solution
31. What is the term for a two-phase liquid system where solid particles are dispersed in a liquid?
- A. Elixir
- B. Solution
- C. Suspension
- D. Syrup
Correct answer: C. Suspension
32. Liquid preparations should be shaken before use to:
- A. Prevent foaming
- B. Activate ingredients
- C. Redisperse suspended particles evenly
- D. Adjust flavor
Correct answer: C. Redisperse suspended particles evenly
33. Why should metal containers be avoided for some liquid formulations?
- A. They are too expensive
- B. They are not sterile
- C. They may react with the formulation
- D. They are not attractive
Correct answer: C. They may react with the formulation
34. Oral liquids for neonates should avoid:
- A. Water
- B. Parabens and alcohol
- C. Electrolytes
- D. Sugars
Correct answer: B. Parabens and alcohol
35. Viscosity of oral liquids can affect:
- A. Taste only
- B. Dissolution rate only
- C. Dose measurement and palatability
- D. Light sensitivity
Correct answer: C. Dose measurement and palatability
36. Which term describes the breakdown of an emulsion into its separate oil and water phases?
- A. Solubilization
- B. Sedimentation
- C. Cracking
- D. Dilution
Correct answer: C. Cracking
37. Which of the following can be used to mask the bitter taste of liquid drugs?
- A. Buffers
- B. Viscosity agents
- C. Sweeteners and flavoring agents
- D. Water
Correct answer: C. Sweeteners and flavoring agents
38. Glycerin is used in liquid formulations as a:
- A. Preservative
- B. Vehicle and humectant
- C. Emulsifier
- D. Binder
Correct answer: B. Vehicle and humectant
39. The choice of solvent for liquid dosage form depends on:
- A. Cost alone
- B. Route of administration and solubility of the drug
- C. Color preference
- D. Viscosity
Correct answer: B. Route of administration and solubility of the drug
40. Which container is ideal for light-sensitive oral liquids?
- A. Clear glass bottle
- B. Paper pouch
- C. Amber-colored glass bottle
- D. Metal can
Correct answer: C. Amber-colored glass bottle
41. A patient should be advised to use which tool to measure oral liquid medications accurately?
- A. Teaspoon
- B. Coffee cup
- C. Calibrated oral syringe or medicine cup
- D. Dropper only
Correct answer: C. Calibrated oral syringe or medicine cup
42. What is the shelf life concern with aqueous oral liquids?
- A. Color fading
- B. Rapid evaporation
- C. Microbial growth and instability
- D. Breaking tablets
Correct answer: C. Microbial growth and instability
43. What does “shake well before use” indicate on a suspension label?
- A. Drug is expired
- B. Needs to activate preservative
- C. Particles must be evenly distributed before dosing
- D. Mix flavors
Correct answer: C. Particles must be evenly distributed before dosing
44. Syrups are usually flavored with:
- A. Alcohol
- B. Saline
- C. Fruit or mint flavors
- D. Talc
Correct answer: C. Fruit or mint flavors
45. Ultimately, the purpose of liquid dosage forms is to:
- A. Reduce patient compliance
- B. Offer flexible, easy-to-swallow, and often faster-acting drug administration
- C. Replace all tablets
- D. Avoid preservatives
Correct answer: B. Offer flexible, easy-to-swallow, and often faster-acting drug administration