MCQ Quiz: Pharmaceutical Calculations

Accuracy in pharmaceutical calculations is the bedrock of patient safety and effective medication preparation. For B.Pharm students, mastering these skills is a fundamental professional responsibility. This quiz covers essential calculations involving different systems of measurement, percentage solutions, the alligation method, proof spirit, and the preparation of isotonic solutions. Honing these abilities is critical for accurate compounding and dispensing in any pharmacy setting.


  1. A percentage solution expressed as weight in volume (% w/v) represents:
    • Grams of solute in 100 g of solution
    • Grams of solute in 100 mL of solution
    • mL of solute in 100 mL of solution
    • mL of solute in 100 g of solution
    Answer: Grams of solute in 100 mL of solution
  2. The method used to find the proportions in which two solutions of different strengths should be mixed to produce a solution of a desired intermediate strength is:
    • Dilution
    • Alligation
    • Isotonicity calculation
    • Proof spirit calculation
    Answer: Alligation
  3. An isotonic solution has the same osmotic pressure as:
    • Distilled water
    • Body fluids
    • A saturated solution
    • Alcohol
    Answer: Body fluids
  4. In the imperial system of measurement, 1 fluid ounce is approximately equal to:
    • 15 mL
    • 30 mL
    • 60 mL
    • 100 mL
    Answer: 30 mL
  5. How many grams of dextrose are required to prepare 500 mL of a 5% w/v solution?
    • 5 g
    • 10 g
    • 25 g
    • 50 g
    Answer: 25 g
  6. “Proof Spirit” in the Indian system corresponds to an alcoholic strength of:
    • 100% v/v
    • 57.1% v/v
    • 50% v/v
    • 90% v/v
    Answer: 57.1% v/v
  7. A solution that has a lower osmotic pressure than body fluids is termed:
    • Isotonic
    • Hypertonic
    • Hypotonic
    • Isomeric
    Answer: Hypotonic
  8. The freezing point of blood and lacrimal fluid is:
    • 0°C
    • -0.52°C
    • -1.86°C
    • 100°C
    Answer: -0.52°C
  9. Alligation medial is used to find the:
    • Proportions of two solutions to mix
    • Average strength of a mixture of two or more substances of known quantity and concentration
    • Amount of diluent to be added
    • Proof strength of an alcohol mixture
    Answer: Average strength of a mixture of two or more substances of known quantity and concentration
  10. How many milligrams are in one grain?
    • 100 mg
    • 64.8 mg
    • 30 mg
    • 15.4 mg
    Answer: 64.8 mg
  11. If you mix 200 mL of a 10% solution with 300 mL of a 20% solution, what is the final percentage strength?
    • 15%
    • 16%
    • 18%
    • 20%
    Answer: 16%
  12. Alcohol that is labeled as “70° over proof” (OP) has what percentage strength of alcohol by volume?
    • 70% v/v
    • 170% of proof spirit strength
    • 30% v/v
    • 130% of proof spirit strength
    Answer: 170% of proof spirit strength
  13. Which of the following dosage forms must be isotonic?
    • Ophthalmic preparations
    • Syrups
    • Suspensions
    • Elixirs
    Answer: Ophthalmic preparations
  14. The term % v/v is used when:
    • The solute is a solid and the solvent is a liquid.
    • The solute is a liquid and the solvent is a liquid.
    • The solute is a solid and the solvent is a solid.
    • The solute is a gas and the solvent is a liquid.
    Answer: The solute is a liquid and the solvent is a liquid.
  15. In what proportion should a 70% alcohol be mixed with a 30% alcohol to produce a 50% alcohol solution?
    • 1 part of 70% and 1 part of 30%
    • 2 parts of 70% and 1 part of 30%
    • 1 part of 70% and 2 parts of 30%
    • 3 parts of 70% and 1 part of 30%
    Answer: 1 part of 70% and 1 part of 30%
  16. The sodium chloride equivalent method is used in the preparation of:
    • Alcoholic solutions
    • Isotonic solutions
    • Percentage solutions
    • Ointments
    Answer: Isotonic solutions
  17. One pint in the imperial system is equivalent to:
    • 12 fluid ounces
    • 16 fluid ounces
    • 20 fluid ounces
    • 32 fluid ounces
    Answer: 20 fluid ounces
  18. How many mL of a 1:500 w/v stock solution are needed to make 1 liter of a 1:2000 w/v solution?
    • 100 mL
    • 200 mL
    • 250 mL
    • 500 mL
    Answer: 250 mL
  19. Alcohol that is “under proof” (UP) contains:
    • More than 57.1% v/v alcohol
    • Less than 57.1% v/v alcohol
    • Exactly 57.1% v/v alcohol
    • No alcohol
    Answer: Less than 57.1% v/v alcohol
  20. Placing red blood cells in a hypertonic solution will cause them to:
    • Swell and burst (hemolysis)
    • Shrink (crenation)
    • Remain unchanged
    • Clump together (agglutinate)
    Answer: Shrink (crenation)
  21. The metric system is based on powers of:
    • 2
    • 8
    • 10
    • 12
    Answer: 10
  22. To prepare 1 liter of a 0.9% w/v sodium chloride solution, you need:
    • 0.9 g of NaCl
    • 9 g of NaCl
    • 90 g of NaCl
    • 900 g of NaCl
    Answer: 9 g of NaCl
  23. Alligation is useful in a pharmacy for:
    • Calculating pediatric doses
    • Diluting a stock solution to a lower concentration
    • Measuring the volume of liquids
    • Determining drug interactions
    Answer: Diluting a stock solution to a lower concentration
  24. A 1% w/v solution of a substance that is isotonic with blood has a freezing point depression of:
    • -1.86°C
    • -0.9°C
    • -0.52°C
    • 0°C
    Answer: -0.52°C
  25. How many grams of a 10% w/w ointment should be mixed with a 2% w/w ointment to make 80 g of a 5% w/w ointment?
    • 30 g of 10% and 50 g of 2%
    • 50 g of 10% and 30 g of 2%
    • 40 g of 10% and 40 g of 2%
    • 20 g of 10% and 60 g of 2%
    Answer: 30 g of 10% and 50 g of 2%
  26. What is the percentage strength (% v/v) of 90° over proof spirit?
    • 90%
    • 147.1%
    • 91.36%
    • 100%
    Answer: 91.36%
  27. The calculation of isotonic solutions is based on colligative properties, such as:
    • Color
    • Odor
    • Freezing point depression
    • Viscosity
    Answer: Freezing point depression
  28. One kilogram (kg) is equal to how many pounds (lb)?
    • 1.1 lb
    • 2.2 lb
    • 3.3 lb
    • 4.4 lb
    Answer: 2.2 lb
  29. You have a 70% v/v alcohol solution. How much water should you add to 100 mL of this solution to make it 35% v/v?
    • 50 mL
    • 70 mL
    • 100 mL
    • 200 mL
    Answer: 100 mL
  30. When using alligation, the number in the center of the grid represents the:
    • Higher strength
    • Lower strength
    • Desired strength
    • Average strength
    Answer: Desired strength
  31. The purpose of making nasal and ophthalmic solutions isotonic is to:
    • Increase their stability
    • Improve their taste
    • Avoid irritation and discomfort
    • Enhance their color
    Answer: Avoid irritation and discomfort
  32. A 1:10,000 solution contains 1 gram of solute in:
    • 100 mL of solvent
    • 1,000 mL of solvent
    • 10,000 mL of solvent
    • 100,000 mL of solvent
    Answer: 10,000 mL of solvent
  33. The proof strength of an 80% v/v alcohol solution is approximately:
    • 40° OP
    • 40° UP
    • 80° OP
    • 20° UP
    Answer: 40° OP
  34. If a drug has a sodium chloride equivalent of 0.18, it means that 1 gram of the drug has the same osmotic effect as:
    • 0.18 g of sodium chloride
    • 1.8 g of sodium chloride
    • 18 g of sodium chloride
    • 0.018 g of sodium chloride
    Answer: 0.18 g of sodium chloride
  35. One teaspoon is generally considered to be:
    • 2.5 mL
    • 5 mL
    • 10 mL
    • 15 mL
    Answer: 5 mL
  36. How much water must be added to 500 g of a 25% w/w solution to make it a 10% w/w solution?
    • 500 g
    • 625 g
    • 750 g
    • 1250 g
    Answer: 750 g
  37. The term “proof gallon” refers to:
    • One gallon of 100% pure alcohol
    • One gallon of alcohol at proof strength
    • 57.1 gallons of alcohol
    • 100 gallons of proof spirit
    Answer: One gallon of alcohol at proof strength
  38. Boric acid has a freezing point depression of 0.288°C for a 1% solution. How much boric acid is needed to make 100 mL of an isotonic solution? (Freezing point depression of blood is 0.52°C)
    • 0.9 g
    • 1.0 g
    • 1.8 g
    • 2.0 g
    Answer: 1.8 g
  39. The term % w/w represents:
    • Grams of solute in 100 mL of solution
    • Grams of solute in 100 g of solution
    • mL of solute in 100 mL of solution
    • mg of solute in 100 g of solution
    Answer: Grams of solute in 100 g of solution
  40. In the alligation method, you subtract the smaller value from the larger value along the:
    • Horizontal lines
    • Vertical lines
    • Diagonal lines
    • Circular lines
    Answer: Diagonal lines
  41. What is the official proof strength of alcohol?
    • 100 proof
    • 90 proof
    • 57.1 proof
    • 50 proof
    Answer: 100 proof
  42. A solution containing 0.9% w/v of NaCl is said to be isotonic with:
    • Pure water
    • Blood plasma
    • Gastric fluid
    • Urine
    Answer: Blood plasma
  43. One tablespoon is approximately:
    • 5 mL
    • 10 mL
    • 15 mL
    • 30 mL
    Answer: 15 mL
  44. If you need to prepare 240 mL of a 2% w/v solution from a 10% w/v stock solution, how many mL of the stock solution do you need?
    • 24 mL
    • 48 mL
    • 96 mL
    • 120 mL
    Answer: 48 mL
  45. What is the percentage v/v strength of a spirit that is 20° under proof (UP)?
    • 80%
    • 45.68%
    • 77.1%
    • 20%
    Answer: 45.68%
  46. The calculation of the quantity of adjusting substance required to make a solution isotonic is known as:
    • Titration
    • Isotonicity adjustment
    • Standardization
    • Dilution
    Answer: Isotonicity adjustment
  47. How many grains are in 1 ounce (Apothecaries’)?
    • 100
    • 240
    • 437.5
    • 480
    Answer: 480
  48. If a pharmacist mixes 100g of 1% hydrocortisone cream with 50g of cream base (0%), what is the final percentage strength?
    • 0.5%
    • 0.67%
    • 0.75%
    • 1%
    Answer: 0.67%
  49. Alcohol of 95% v/v strength is also known as:
    • Absolute alcohol
    • Rectified spirit
    • Proof spirit
    • Dilute alcohol
    Answer: Rectified spirit
  50. When preparing an isotonic solution, if the amount of drug is insufficient to be isotonic, what is typically added?
    • More drug
    • An adjusting substance like NaCl or boric acid
    • Water
    • A preservative
    Answer: An adjusting substance like NaCl or boric acid

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