Compression and processing problems MCQs With Answer introduce B.Pharm students to practical tablet manufacturing challenges such as capping, lamination, sticking, picking, double impression and weight variation. This concise, keyword-rich overview covers tablet defects, causes (granulation properties, moisture, lubrication, machine settings), detection methods (hardness, friability, visual inspection) and corrective actions (binder optimization, dwell time, punch maintenance, coating). Emphasis on tablet compression, die filling, punch alignment, granule size and lubrication helps students link theory with troubleshooting in pharmaceutical production. Clear examples prepare students for exams and industry practices. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. What is ‘capping’ in tablet compression?
- Separation of tablet layers or top coming off during compression
- Adhesion of formulation to the punch face
- Presence of black specks on tablet surface
- Rough tablet edges after ejection
Correct Answer: Separation of tablet layers or top coming off during compression
Q2. Which factor most commonly causes capping?
- Excessive granule firmness due to over-binder
- Entrapped air or insufficient granule plasticity
- Too much lubricant in the blend
- High pigment concentration in coating
Correct Answer: Entrapped air or insufficient granule plasticity
Q3. A practical remedy to reduce capping is:
- Decrease binder concentration during granulation
- Increase compression speed without other changes
- Optimize granulation (improve binder, reduce fines) and adjust precompression
- Remove all lubricants from the formulation
Correct Answer: Optimize granulation (improve binder, reduce fines) and adjust precompression
Q4. Lamination differs from capping because lamination is:
- Loss of embossing on tablet surface
- Complete separation of tablets into two or more distinct layers
- Adhesion of granules to punch faces
- Weight variation between tablets
Correct Answer: Complete separation of tablets into two or more distinct layers
Q5. Sticking during compression is best described as:
- Tablet splitting into layers after ejection
- Material adhering to die wall or punch face during compression
- Powder flowing too freely into the die
- Unusual hardness increase after coating
Correct Answer: Material adhering to die wall or punch face during compression
Q6. A common cause of picking is:
- Overlubrication of the powder mix
- High moisture in tablet coating only
- Strong adhesive forces between tablet surface and face of the punch during ejection
- Too large granules preventing die fill
Correct Answer: Strong adhesive forces between tablet surface and face of the punch during ejection
Q7. What typically causes a double impression defect on tablets?
- Punch head contacting the die only once per cycle
- Die fill fluctuation and poor turret indexing causing two compressions
- Excess plastic deformation making impression unclear
- Insufficient coating pigment
Correct Answer: Die fill fluctuation and poor turret indexing causing two compressions
Q8. Excessively high main compression force is most likely to cause:
- Increased tablet friability and friable edges
- Reduced tablet density and increased porosity
- Overly hard tablets, possible lamination or capping due to elastic recovery
- Improved dissolution rate due to increased porosity
Correct Answer: Overly hard tablets, possible lamination or capping due to elastic recovery
Q9. Why is dwell time important in tablet compression?
- It controls the color uniformity of coated tablets
- Longer dwell time allows better particle rearrangement and interparticulate bonding
- It determines the final moisture content after compression
- Shorter dwell always increases tablet hardness
Correct Answer: Longer dwell time allows better particle rearrangement and interparticulate bonding
Q10. Non-uniform die filling often results from:
- Consistent granule size and optimal hopper design
- Poor powder flow, inconsistent feed frame speed or worn feeder parts
- Excessive lubrication leading to perfect flow
- Increasing turret speed with no other changes reduces non-uniformity
Correct Answer: Poor powder flow, inconsistent feed frame speed or worn feeder parts
Q11. Over-lubrication with magnesium stearate commonly causes:
- Improved tablet dissolution due to faster disintegration
- Increased tablet hardness and reduced dissolution rate
- Reduced ejection force and improved friability
- Enhanced wetting and faster drug release
Correct Answer: Increased tablet hardness and reduced dissolution rate
Q12. Under-lubrication in a tablet blend can lead to:
- Excessive sticking, picking and high ejection force
- Complete elimination of weight variation
- Improved coating adhesion automatically
- Reduction of water content in granules
Correct Answer: Excessive sticking, picking and high ejection force
Q13. How does granule particle size affect compression?
- Finer granules always improve flowability and die fill
- Very coarse granules reduce interparticulate bonding and may increase weight variation
- Particle size has no effect on tablet hardness
- Smaller particles always reduce dissolution time
Correct Answer: Very coarse granules reduce interparticulate bonding and may increase weight variation
Q14. Which excipient is commonly used to improve flow and reduce die sticking?
- Magnesium stearate as a lubricant
- Microcrystalline cellulose as a disintegrant
- Talc as a glidant and antiadherent
- Starch solely as a binder
Correct Answer: Talc as a glidant and antiadherent
Q15. The principle of the friability test is based on:
- Measuring the color change after tumbling
- Weight loss of a sample after tumbling to assess mechanical strength
- Determination of moisture uptake under humidity
- Measuring tablet thickness after compression
Correct Answer: Weight loss of a sample after tumbling to assess mechanical strength
Q16. What is the generally accepted maximum friability limit for uncoated tablets?
- Less than 10% weight loss
- Less than 5% weight loss
- Less than 1% weight loss
- Less than 0.1% weight loss
Correct Answer: Less than 1% weight loss
Q17. Tablet hardness testing primarily evaluates:
- Chemical potency of the active ingredient
- Mechanical strength and ability to withstand handling
- Coating uniformity only
- Granule flow properties in the hopper
Correct Answer: Mechanical strength and ability to withstand handling
Q18. Too high moisture content in granules often causes:
- Improved flow and reduced sticking
- Increased sticking and picking due to surface tackiness
- Reduction in tablet weight variability always
- Permanent elimination of capping problems
Correct Answer: Increased sticking and picking due to surface tackiness
Q19. Precompression (or pre-bounding) step is used to:
- Completely remove lubricants from the blend
- Provide an initial low force compaction to expel air and improve powder packing
- Color tablets before final compression
- Reduce active drug content in the tablet
Correct Answer: Provide an initial low force compaction to expel air and improve powder packing
Q20. Which machine part controls the maximum fill volume of a tablet?
- Punch head
- Die depth and filling cam/feed frame
- Tablet coating pan
- Friabilator drum
Correct Answer: Die depth and filling cam/feed frame
Q21. Which maintenance issue is most likely to cause weight variation in a rotary press?
- Sharp embossing dies
- Worn or damaged feed frame parts and inconsistent turret speed
- Excessive lubrication concentration within limits
- Properly aligned punches
Correct Answer: Worn or damaged feed frame parts and inconsistent turret speed
Q22. Mottling on coated tablets is most frequently due to:
- Excessive tablet hardness only
- Non-uniform distribution of pigments, poor mixing or variable surface properties
- Under-lubrication of the core blend
- Using too much disintegrant in core formulation
Correct Answer: Non-uniform distribution of pigments, poor mixing or variable surface properties
Q23. What effect does punch alignment have on tablet quality?
- No effect; alignment is irrelevant
- Misalignment can cause uneven compression, scoring, and increased rejection
- Proper alignment increases friability substantially
- Alignment only affects coating color
Correct Answer: Misalignment can cause uneven compression, scoring, and increased rejection
Q24. Which change would most likely reduce sticking on the punch face?
- Decrease lubricant concentration to zero
- Increase punch face polish, use antiadherents and optimize lubricant level
- Increase turret speed dramatically without other changes
- Introduce more fines into the blend
Correct Answer: Increase punch face polish, use antiadherents and optimize lubricant level
Q25. What is the role of a glidant in tablet processing?
- To act as the primary disintegrant
- To enhance powder flow and improve die filling
- To bind particles together during granulation
- To increase tablet hardness dramatically
Correct Answer: To enhance powder flow and improve die filling
Q26. Which phenomenon is described by ‘elastic recovery’ in tablets?
- Permanently reduced tablet thickness after compression
- Partial expansion of the tablet after decompression leading to lamination or capping
- Adhesion of tablet surface to punch faces
- Immediate disintegration upon contact with water
Correct Answer: Partial expansion of the tablet after decompression leading to lamination or capping
Q27. A sudden increase in tablet ejection force suggests:
- Improved lubrication and reduced sticking
- Possible die or punch wear, inadequate lubrication, or increased bulk density
- Lower compression force than before
- Excessive application of coating material
Correct Answer: Possible die or punch wear, inadequate lubrication, or increased bulk density
Q28. Which adjustment can improve content uniformity during compression?
- Reduce mixing time of the final blend
- Use appropriate granulation to ensure uniform API distribution and optimize mixing
- Eliminate any use of glidants and lubricants
- Increase turret speed without checking blend homogeneity
Correct Answer: Use appropriate granulation to ensure uniform API distribution and optimize mixing
Q29. Which test instrument is used to measure tablet friability?
- pH meter
- Roche friabilator (tumbling drum)
- UV spectrophotometer
- Microscope for particle imaging
Correct Answer: Roche friabilator (tumbling drum)
Q30. Which modification is useful to correct poor die fill due to poor powder flow?
- Increase humidity dramatically in the compression area
- Add a glidant, optimize hopper and feed frame design, or granulate to improve flow
- Eliminate all binders to reduce cohesion
- Always reduce turret speed to minimum
Correct Answer: Add a glidant, optimize hopper and feed frame design, or granulate to improve flow
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