Advantages and disadvantages of powders MCQs With Answer

Advantages and disadvantages of powders MCQs With Answer are vital for B. Pharm students studying pharmaceutics. Powders are foundational dosage forms used in oral, topical, and inhalation preparations. Key advantages include dose flexibility, rapid dissolution (no disintegration step), ease of blending, and enhanced stability in the absence of water; disadvantages include poor flow, segregation, dusting, hygroscopicity, taste masking challenges, and dosing inaccuracies in bulk use. Core concepts include particle size reduction, flow properties (angle of repose, Carr’s index, Hausner ratio), content uniformity, incompatibilities, eutectic/deliquescent behavior, and proper packaging/labeling. Knowledge of excipients (diluents, adsorbents, glidants, lubricants) and tests (sieve analysis, density) supports safe compounding and scale-up. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. Which is a primary advantage of pharmaceutical powders over tablets for oral delivery?

• They avoid the disintegration step, enabling faster dissolution
• They always provide superior taste masking
• They inherently prevent dose variability
• They require no packaging precautions

Correct Answer: They avoid the disintegration step, enabling faster dissolution

Q2. Why are powders generally less suitable for very potent drugs in bulk form?

• They cannot be flavored
• They often exhibit dose inaccuracy due to patient measurement and segregation
• They cannot be sterilized
• They always require refrigeration

Correct Answer: They often exhibit dose inaccuracy due to patient measurement and segregation

Q3. Which angle of repose value most reliably indicates good flow of a powder blend?

• < 30°
• 35–45°
• 50–60°
• > 60°

Correct Answer: < 30°

Q4. Carr’s Index (Compressibility Index) is calculated using which expression?

• (Tapped density − Bulk density) / Tapped density × 100
• (Bulk density − Tapped density) / Bulk density × 100
• (Bulk density + Tapped density) / 2 × 100
• (Tapped density / Bulk density) × 100

Correct Answer: (Tapped density − Bulk density) / Tapped density × 100

Q5. A Hausner ratio less than which value typically suggests acceptable flow?

• 1.10
• 1.25
• 1.40
• 1.60

Correct Answer: 1.25

Q6. Which mechanisms commonly cause segregation in powder mixtures?

• Percolation (sifting)
• Trajectory (rolling)
• Elutriation (air carryover)
• All of the above

Correct Answer: All of the above

Q7. Which strategy best minimizes caking in hygroscopic powders?

• Use of volatile solvents in packaging
• Addition of adsorbents (e.g., starch, light MgO) and moisture-resistant packaging
• Increasing storage temperature
• Using coarser sieves during analysis

Correct Answer: Addition of adsorbents (e.g., starch, light MgO) and moisture-resistant packaging

Q8. Deliquescent substances are characterized by which behavior?

• They lose water of crystallization on exposure to air
• They absorb moisture until they dissolve to form a solution
• They form eutectic mixtures that liquefy on mixing
• They sublime readily at room temperature

Correct Answer: They absorb moisture until they dissolve to form a solution

Q9. The preferred method to handle eutectic-forming drug pairs in divided powders is to:

• Increase ambient humidity during mixing
• Trituration together without additives
• Triturate each separately with an inert adsorbent, then gently blend
• Compress them into tablets

Correct Answer: Triturate each separately with an inert adsorbent, then gently blend

Q10. To control dusting and explosion hazards during powder processing, the most effective control is:

• Adding a colorant
• Local exhaust ventilation and equipment grounding/antistatic measures
• Using only plastic scoops
• Increasing ambient temperature

Correct Answer: Local exhaust ventilation and equipment grounding/antistatic measures

Q11. Which excipient is most commonly used as a glidant to improve powder flow at low concentrations?

• Colloidal silicon dioxide
• Lactose monohydrate
• Sodium starch glycolate
• Magnesium stearate

Correct Answer: Colloidal silicon dioxide

Q12. For unit-dose divided powders containing potent drugs, the appropriate quality test is:

• Weight variation
• Content uniformity
• Friability
• Disintegration time

Correct Answer: Content uniformity

Q13. How does reducing particle size typically affect dissolution rate of a poorly soluble drug powder?

• No effect on dissolution rate
• Decreases dissolution rate
• Increases dissolution rate by increasing surface area
• Only affects taste, not dissolution

Correct Answer: Increases dissolution rate by increasing surface area

Q14. For dry powder inhalers, the optimal aerodynamic particle size for deep lung deposition is approximately:

• 0.1–0.5 µm
• 1–5 µm
• 10–50 µm
• > 100 µm

Correct Answer: 1–5 µm

Q15. Bulk density of a powder is defined as:

• Mass divided by true volume
• Mass divided by tapped volume
• Mass divided by bulk (untapped) volume
• Mass divided by particle volume excluding voids

Correct Answer: Mass divided by bulk (untapped) volume

Q16. Segregation risk in powder blends increases primarily with differences in:

• Particle size
• Particle shape
• Particle density
• All of the above

Correct Answer: All of the above

Q17. Which excipients primarily enhance palatability of oral powders?

• Glidants such as colloidal silica
• Sweeteners and flavors (e.g., sucrose, aspartame, menthol)
• Disintegrants like crospovidone
• Lubricants such as magnesium stearate

Correct Answer: Sweeteners and flavors (e.g., sucrose, aspartame, menthol)

Q18. A key advantage of effervescent powders is that they:

• Always reduce gastric irritation
• Release CO₂ to mask taste and improve dissolution on reconstitution
• Eliminate the need for packaging
• Are suitable for all drugs

Correct Answer: Release CO₂ to mask taste and improve dissolution on reconstitution

Q19. Which statement best explains why powders can be disadvantageous for patient dosing compared to tablets?

• Powders cannot be flavored
• Patients may measure inaccurate doses from bulk powders
• Powders cannot be blended homogeneously
• Powders always require refrigeration

Correct Answer: Patients may measure inaccurate doses from bulk powders

Q20. What essential label statement must appear on dusting powders intended for skin application?

• For internal use only
• Shake well before use
• For external use only
• Store frozen

Correct Answer: For external use only

Q21. Which is a suitable adsorbent for incorporating eutectic or oily substances in powders?

• Light magnesium carbonate
• Sodium lauryl sulfate
• Povidone K30
• Mannitol

Correct Answer: Light magnesium carbonate

Q22. How can efflorescent substances be best managed in powder formulations?

• Replace with anhydrous form and use desiccant packaging
• Increase ambient humidity
• Use only coarse sieving
• Store in open containers

Correct Answer: Replace with anhydrous form and use desiccant packaging

Q23. For capsule filling, which powder attribute most strongly influences consistent die filling and weight?

• Color intensity
• Flowability (e.g., Hausner ratio/Carr’s index)
• Drug taste
• Osmolality

Correct Answer: Flowability (e.g., Hausner ratio/Carr’s index)

Q24. During compounding of divided powders with a potent drug, the preferred blending technique is:

• Random mixing
• Wet granulation
• Geometric dilution
• Direct compression

Correct Answer: Geometric dilution

Q25. The most appropriate packaging for moisture-sensitive effervescent powders is:

• Paper envelopes
• Foil-laminate sachets with desiccant
• Cotton stoppered glass vials
• Permeable polyethylene bags

Correct Answer: Foil-laminate sachets with desiccant

Q26. A major disadvantage of bulk powders relative to unit-dose forms is:

• Higher manufacturing cost
• More complex excipient profile
• Potential for patient dosing errors during measurement
• Inability to flavor

Correct Answer: Potential for patient dosing errors during measurement

Q27. Typical effective concentration range of colloidal silicon dioxide as a glidant is:

• 0.05–0.5%
• 0.1–1.0%
• 2–5%
• 5–10%

Correct Answer: 0.1–1.0%

Q28. Which practical approach best minimizes electrostatic charging during powder blending and transfer?

• Use finer particles and higher mixer speed
• Maintain 40–60% relative humidity and ground/antistatic-treat equipment
• Dry the blend to very low humidity
• Use only plastic utensils

Correct Answer: Maintain 40–60% relative humidity and ground/antistatic-treat equipment

Q29. For surgical dusting powders, a critical quality requirement is:

• Presence of strong fragrance
• Sterility
• High sweetness
• Colored appearance

Correct Answer: Sterility

Q30. What is a key stability advantage of powders for heat- or moisture-labile drugs?

• They absorb water to stabilize the drug
• They avoid wet processing and generally contain no water, reducing degradation
• They always require refrigeration to remain stable
• They are compressed to generate protective heat

Correct Answer: They avoid wet processing and generally contain no water, reducing degradation

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