Elixirs are clear, pleasant-tasting hydroalcoholic oral solutions designed to improve solubility, stability and palatability of active pharmaceutical ingredients. For B.Pharm students, mastering formulation of liquid orals involves solvent and co‑solvent selection (ethanol, glycerin, propylene glycol), excipient roles (sweeteners, flavors, preservatives), pH and buffer control, stability concerns (hydrolysis, oxidation, microbial growth) and quality control tests (alcohol content, refractive index, microbial limits). Practical knowledge covers preservative choice (parabens, chlorobutanol), taste masking (complexation, resins), and regulatory labeling. These MCQs are crafted to challenge application of formulation principles in real development and QC scenarios. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. What is the best definition of an elixir?
- A clear, sweetened hydroalcoholic solution intended for oral use
- A viscous, purely aqueous solution for topical application
- An aqueous suspension of insoluble drug particles
- A sterile injectable aqueous solution
Correct Answer: A clear, sweetened hydroalcoholic solution intended for oral use
Q2. How does an elixir primarily differ from a syrup?
- Elixir contains hydroalcoholic solvent and is less viscous than syrup
- Elixir is always carbonated while syrup is not
- Syrup contains alcohol while elixir is strictly aqueous
- Syrups are only for parenteral use
Correct Answer: Elixir contains hydroalcoholic solvent and is less viscous than syrup
Q3. What is the principal role of ethanol in an elixir formulation?
- Increases drug solubility and acts as preservative
- Acts as primary sweetening agent
- Precipitates the active ingredient to reduce potency
- Functions as a primary buffer component
Correct Answer: Increases drug solubility and acts as preservative
Q4. What is a typical ethanol concentration range used in elixirs?
- Typically 5–40% v/v ethanol
- Typically 60–90% v/v ethanol
- Less than 0.5% v/v ethanol only
- Exactly 100% ethanol
Correct Answer: Typically 5–40% v/v ethanol
Q5. Which of the following are common co‑solvents used in elixir formulations?
- Glycerin and propylene glycol
- Hexane and benzene
- Olive oil and mineral oil only
- Chloroform and carbon tetrachloride
Correct Answer: Glycerin and propylene glycol
Q6. Which function is NOT associated with glycerin in elixirs?
- Solvent, sweetening agent and viscosity enhancer
- Acts as humectant to reduce crystallization
- Primary antimicrobial preservative replacing all preservatives
- Stabilizes some water‑sensitive drugs by lowering water activity
Correct Answer: Primary antimicrobial preservative replacing all preservatives
Q7. Why are preservatives typically required in elixir formulations?
- Water and sugar content support microbial growth if unprotected
- They increase drug crystallinity intentionally
- To make the elixir non‑palatable for safety
- To neutralize alcohol content completely
Correct Answer: Water and sugar content support microbial growth if unprotected
Q8. Which compound listed below is NOT used as a preservative in elixirs?
- Saccharin
- Methylparaben
- Propylparaben
- Chlorobutanol
Correct Answer: Saccharin
Q9. Which taste‑masking strategy is commonly used for bitter drugs in liquid orals?
- Complexation with cyclodextrins
- Increasing drug particle size to the micrometer range
- Removing flavoring agents completely
- Reducing solvent polarity to precipitate the drug
Correct Answer: Complexation with cyclodextrins
Q10. How does pH primarily influence drug behavior in elixirs?
- It influences drug ionization, solubility and hydrolytic stability
- It determines the color but has no effect on solubility
- pH controls the viscosity only
- pH is irrelevant in hydroalcoholic systems
Correct Answer: It influences drug ionization, solubility and hydrolytic stability
Q11. Which buffer system is commonly used to control pH in oral liquid formulations?
- Citric acid–sodium citrate buffer
- Sodium hydroxide–potassium permanganate buffer
- Hydrochloric acid–silver nitrate buffer
- Phosphoric acid–benzalkonium chloride buffer
Correct Answer: Citric acid–sodium citrate buffer
Q12. Which analytical method provides the most accurate determination of alcohol content in elixirs?
- Gas chromatography
- pH meter measurement
- Thin layer chromatography (TLC)
- Melting point determination
Correct Answer: Gas chromatography
Q13. Which preservative is commonly used for broad‑spectrum protection in elixirs?
- Methylparaben
- Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
- Sucrose
- Calcium carbonate
Correct Answer: Methylparaben
Q14. Why are elixirs advantageous for poorly water‑soluble drugs?
- They improve solubility by using alcohol and co‑solvents and enhance palatability
- They force the drug into a crystalline suspended state for slow release
- They eliminate the need for quality control testing
- They convert the drug to an injectable form
Correct Answer: They improve solubility by using alcohol and co‑solvents and enhance palatability
Q15. What is a primary limitation of elixirs in clinical use?
- Unsuitable for pediatric patients and alcohol‑restricted individuals
- They cannot improve solubility of any drug
- They always require refrigeration below 2°C
- They are inherently sterile and need no preservatives
Correct Answer: Unsuitable for pediatric patients and alcohol‑restricted individuals
Q16. Which sequence describes a standard preparation method for an elixir?
- Dissolve alcohol‑soluble components in alcohol, dissolve aqueous components in water, then combine with mixing
- Autoclave the drug with oil and then add dry sugar powder
- Mix all ingredients dry and compress into tablets, then dissolve
- Sublimate solvents and collect the residue as the elixir
Correct Answer: Dissolve alcohol‑soluble components in alcohol, dissolve aqueous components in water, then combine with mixing
Q17. What does a co‑solvent system in elixirs accomplish?
- A combination of solvents (ethanol, glycerin, propylene glycol) to enhance solubility of the drug
- Creates immiscible layers to separate impurities
- Removes all water from the formulation
- Always replaces preservatives completely
Correct Answer: A combination of solvents (ethanol, glycerin, propylene glycol) to enhance solubility of the drug
Q18. How does elevated temperature affect an elixir formulation?
- High temperature can evaporate volatile solvents and accelerate degradation of sensitive drugs
- It always increases shelf life without exceptions
- It converts elixirs to syrups by polymerization
- Temperature has no effect on hydroalcoholic solutions
Correct Answer: High temperature can evaporate volatile solvents and accelerate degradation of sensitive drugs
Q19. Which excipient is a traditional sweetening agent used in many elixirs?
- Sucrose
- Benzalkonium chloride
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Sodium lauryl sulfate
Correct Answer: Sucrose
Q20. Which test is NOT relevant for routine quality control of elixirs?
- Melting point determination
- pH measurement
- Microbial limit test
- Alcohol content assay
Correct Answer: Melting point determination
Q21. For a sugar‑free elixir intended for diabetic patients, which sweetener is commonly used?
- Sorbitol
- Table sugar (sucrose)
- Glucose syrup
- Fructose in high concentration
Correct Answer: Sorbitol
Q22. Which formulation approach can be used to mask the taste of a cationic bitter drug in liquid form?
- Ion‑exchange resin complexation
- Increase the drug concentration tenfold
- Remove all flavoring agents
- Lower the pH to extreme acidity without buffering
Correct Answer: Ion‑exchange resin complexation
Q23. Which packaging choice best protects elixirs from light and minimizes solvent loss?
- Amber glass bottles to protect from light and prevent solvent loss
- Perforated cardboard boxes to allow aeration
- Clear plastic bags with high oxygen permeability
- Open wide‑mouth jars for easy access
Correct Answer: Amber glass bottles to protect from light and prevent solvent loss
Q24. Which labeling requirement is essential for elixirs containing ethanol?
- Declaration of alcohol content on the label
- Listing of the melting point of the drug
- Instructions to freeze before use
- Claim that the product is sterile
Correct Answer: Declaration of alcohol content on the label
Q25. How does the drug pKa influence its solubility in an elixir?
- Drug pKa determines ionization and thus alters solubility and dissolution behavior
- pKa only affects color and not solubility
- pKa sets the boiling point of the elixir
- pKa is irrelevant in presence of any organic solvent
Correct Answer: Drug pKa determines ionization and thus alters solubility and dissolution behavior
Q26. Which of the following statements about elixirs is FALSE?
- Elixirs must be sterilized by autoclaving before packaging
- Elixirs often rely on preservatives and alcohol for microbial control
- Alcohol content limits their use in certain populations
- Co‑solvents are used to enhance solubility of poorly soluble drugs
Correct Answer: Elixirs must be sterilized by autoclaving before packaging
Q27. Which instrument is typically used to measure sugar concentration (Brix) in sweetened liquids like elixirs?
- Refractometer (measuring refractive index/Brix)
- pH meter
- Gas chromatograph for alcohol only
- Atomic absorption spectrometer
Correct Answer: Refractometer (measuring refractive index/Brix)
Q28. Which artificial sweetener is known to be unstable on prolonged heating and in acidic media?
- Aspartame
- Sucralose
- Sodium saccharin
- Sorbitol
Correct Answer: Aspartame
Q29. Which antioxidant is commonly used in oral liquid formulations to protect oxidation‑sensitive drugs?
- Sodium metabisulfite
- Benzalkonium chloride
- Methylparaben
- Sucrose
Correct Answer: Sodium metabisulfite
Q30. For an alcohol‑free elixir formulation, which solvent system is most appropriate?
- Glycerin and propylene glycol mixture
- Pure ethanol only
- Hexane and toluene mixture
- Liquid nitrogen as solvent
Correct Answer: Glycerin and propylene glycol mixture
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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