Introduction: Excipients used in tablet formulation are inert substances that play critical roles in manufacturability, stability, and drug performance. B. Pharm students must understand types—diluents/fillers, binders, disintegrants, lubricants, glidants, coatings, plasticizers and surfactants—and their effects on compression, dissolution, bioavailability and shelf life. Selection depends on chemical compatibility, particle size, moisture sensitivity, flow properties and intended release profile. Knowledge of common excipients such as microcrystalline cellulose, lactose, starch, povidone, HPMC, magnesium stearate and colloidal silicon dioxide is essential for rational formulation design and problem-solving in quality control and scale-up. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. Which excipient primarily improves powder flow by reducing interparticle friction?
- Binder
- Disintegrant
- Glidant
- Lubricant
Correct Answer: Glidant
Q2. Which of the following is a commonly used binder in wet granulation?
- Magnesium stearate
- Microcrystalline cellulose
- Povidone (PVP)
- Colloidal silicon dioxide
Correct Answer: Povidone (PVP)
Q3. Which excipient class facilitates tablet breakup into smaller fragments after administration?
- Binder
- Disintegrant
- Lubricant
- Diluent
Correct Answer: Disintegrant
Q4. Which diluent is preferred for direct compression due to its compressibility and binding properties?
- Lactose monohydrate
- Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)
- Sucrose
- Starch
Correct Answer: Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)
Q5. Excessive magnesium stearate can negatively affect tablets by:
- Increasing tablet hardness dramatically
- Reducing disintegration and dissolution rates
- Acting as a strong binder improving cohesion
- Enhancing wetting and solubility of APIs
Correct Answer: Reducing disintegration and dissolution rates
Q6. Which excipient is primarily used as a superdisintegrant?
- Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)
- Croscarmellose sodium
- Magnesium stearate
- Calcium phosphate
Correct Answer: Croscarmellose sodium
Q7. Which coating polymer is commonly used for film coating to control release and protect tablets?
- Sorbitol
- Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)
- Starch paste
- Silicon dioxide
Correct Answer: Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)
Q8. For effervescent tablets, which excipient is essential to produce CO2 on contact with water?
- Sodium bicarbonate
- Magnesium stearate
- Microcrystalline cellulose
- Povidone
Correct Answer: Sodium bicarbonate
Q9. Which excipient improves tablet compactibility by acting as a dry binder in direct compression?
- Pregelatinized starch
- Colloidal silicon dioxide
- Magnesium carbonate
- Talc
Correct Answer: Pregelatinized starch
Q10. Which property of an excipient is most critical to prevent chemical incompatibility with the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API)?
- Particle size distribution
- Hygroscopicity and chemical reactivity
- Colour and taste
- Melting point only
Correct Answer: Hygroscopicity and chemical reactivity
Q11. Which excipient functions primarily to prevent powder sticking to the punch faces during compression?
- Lubricant (e.g., magnesium stearate)
- Disintegrant (e.g., croscarmellose)
- Filler (e.g., lactose)
- Binder (e.g., PVP)
Correct Answer: Lubricant (e.g., magnesium stearate)
Q12. Which excipient class is most important to modify tablet taste and mouthfeel for oral immediate-release tablets?
- Glidants
- Sweeteners and flavoring agents
- Enteric coatings
- Plasticizers
Correct Answer: Sweeteners and flavoring agents
Q13. Which excipient is typically used as a glidant to improve flow but also acts as an anti-caking agent?
- Colloidal silicon dioxide
- Sodium starch glycolate
- Hydroxypropyl cellulose
- Sorbitol
Correct Answer: Colloidal silicon dioxide
Q14. Which excipient is commonly used as a water-soluble binder in wet granulation that also improves dissolution?
- Povidone (PVP)
- Magnesium stearate
- Talc
- Calcium carbonate
Correct Answer: Povidone (PVP)
Q15. Which excipient is most suitable when developing a sustained-release matrix tablet?
- Microcrystalline cellulose
- Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)
- Magnesium stearate
- Lactose
Correct Answer: Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)
Q16. Which excipient should be minimized in moisture-sensitive formulations to prevent degradation?
- Hygroscopic excipients like sorbitol or PEG
- Insoluble glidants like talc
- Non-hygroscopic fillers like calcium phosphate
- Hydrophobic lubricants like magnesium stearate
Correct Answer: Hygroscopic excipients like sorbitol or PEG
Q17. Which excipient aids tablet lubrication and also may cause hydrophobic film barriers at high concentrations?
- Sodium lauryl sulfate
- Magnesium stearate
- Microcrystalline cellulose
- Croscarmellose sodium
Correct Answer: Magnesium stearate
Q18. Which test is most influenced by the choice of lubricant and its concentration?
- Disintegration time only
- Dissolution profile and tablet friability
- Colorimetric assay
- Melting point determination of API
Correct Answer: Dissolution profile and tablet friability
Q19. Which excipient class includes agents like glycerol and propylene glycol used in coating or chewable formulations?
- Plasticizers
- Glidants
- Superdisintegrants
- Antioxidants
Correct Answer: Plasticizers
Q20. For direct compression, which combination is ideal for good flow and compressibility?
- High lactose + high humid hygroscopic excipient
- Microcrystalline cellulose + colloidal silicon dioxide
- Magnesium stearate + excessive talc
- Pure API powder without any excipient
Correct Answer: Microcrystalline cellulose + colloidal silicon dioxide
Q21. Which excipient would be chosen to mask bitter taste in immediate release oral tablets?
- Sodium bicarbonate
- Sweeteners and flavouring agents, e.g., sucralose
- Magnesium stearate
- HPMC (release retardant)
Correct Answer: Sweeteners and flavouring agents, e.g., sucralose
Q22. Which excipient acts as an antiadherent to prevent tablets from sticking during compression?
- Talc
- Povidone
- Lactose
- Starch
Correct Answer: Talc
Q23. Which excipient is commonly used as a disintegrant by swelling on contact with water?
- Microcrystalline cellulose
- Starch and modified starches (e.g., sodium starch glycolate)
- Magnesium stearate
- Talc
Correct Answer: Starch and modified starches (e.g., sodium starch glycolate)
Q24. Which excipient is best to enhance dissolution of poorly water-soluble drugs via wetting?
- Lubricants like stearates
- Surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate
- Insoluble fillers like titanium dioxide
- Talc and magnesium carbonate
Correct Answer: Surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate
Q25. Which excipient property most affects tablet hardness and mechanical strength during compression?
- Particle color
- Compressibility and plastic deformation characteristics
- Odor
- Surface gloss
Correct Answer: Compressibility and plastic deformation characteristics
Q26. Which excipient is commonly avoided in formulations requiring strong aqueous stability due to hydrolysis concerns?
- Polyethylene glycol (PEG) if drug sensitive to oxidation
- Sorbitol and other polyols that may attract moisture
- Hydrophobic fillers like calcium phosphate
- Colloidal silicon dioxide
Correct Answer: Sorbitol and other polyols that may attract moisture
Q27. In modified-release tablets, which excipient class is primarily responsible for controlling matrix erosion and diffusion?
- Glidants
- Hydrophilic polymers such as HPMC and ethylcellulose
- Sweeteners
- Antioxidants
Correct Answer: Hydrophilic polymers such as HPMC and ethylcellulose
Q28. Which excipient would you select to increase tablet porosity and enhance disintegration?
- Hydrophobic lubricants like magnesium stearate
- Effervescent agents or pore formers like sodium bicarbonate/citric acid
- Film-forming polymers
- Colloidal silicon dioxide only
Correct Answer: Effervescent agents or pore formers like sodium bicarbonate/citric acid
Q29. Which analytical consideration is crucial when incorporating colored coatings into tablets?
- Impact on tablet friability only
- Light stability of API, pigment/API compatibility, and coating uniformity
- Only the flavour compatibility
- Only the cost of pigments
Correct Answer: Light stability of API, pigment/API compatibility, and coating uniformity
Q30. When optimizing a tablet formulation, which systematic approach helps select suitable excipients and concentrations?
- Trial-and-error without documentation
- Quality by Design (QbD) with design of experiments (DoE)
- Choosing the cheapest excipient available
- Using the same excipients as any marketed product without evaluation
Correct Answer: Quality by Design (QbD) with design of experiments (DoE)
I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.
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