Capsules are a popular and patient-friendly oral dosage form used to deliver a wide range of drugs. They can be hard or soft, filled with powders, granules, liquids, or pellets. Understanding capsule composition, manufacturing, advantages, and formulation challenges is essential for pharmacy students. This MCQ quiz covers types of capsules, excipients, shell materials, release mechanisms, and more.
1. What are capsules primarily used for?
- A. Topical application
- B. Intravenous injection
- C. Oral delivery of solid and semi-solid drugs
- D. Rectal suppositories
Correct answer: C. Oral delivery of solid and semi-solid drugs
2. The shell of a hard gelatin capsule is made of:
- A. Starch
- B. Polyethylene glycol
- C. Gelatin, water, and sometimes a colorant
- D. Talc
Correct answer: C. Gelatin, water, and sometimes a colorant
3. Which type of capsule is typically used for liquids or oils?
- A. Hard gelatin
- B. Soft gelatin
- C. Enteric-coated tablet
- D. Buccal film
Correct answer: B. Soft gelatin
4. Which of the following is a common plasticizer used in soft gelatin capsules?
- A. Magnesium stearate
- B. Glycerin or sorbitol
- C. Talc
- D. Ethanol
Correct answer: B. Glycerin or sorbitol
5. What is a major advantage of capsules over tablets?
- A. Lower cost
- B. Higher stability
- C. Easier to swallow and faster disintegration
- D. Require refrigeration
Correct answer: C. Easier to swallow and faster disintegration
6. What is the main role of diluents in capsule formulation?
- A. Increase solubility
- B. Add color
- C. Achieve the desired capsule fill weight
- D. Enhance flavor
Correct answer: C. Achieve the desired capsule fill weight
7. Which substance can be used as a lubricant in capsule filling?
- A. Magnesium stearate
- B. Ethanol
- C. Acacia
- D. Water
Correct answer: A. Magnesium stearate
8. What is the main limitation of hard gelatin capsules?
- A. Too soft
- B. React with enteric coatings
- C. Moisture sensitivity and brittleness in dry air
- D. Require injection
Correct answer: C. Moisture sensitivity and brittleness in dry air
9. What is the function of the capsule body and cap?
- A. Dissolve rapidly
- B. Mask flavor
- C. Lock the powder inside the capsule
- D. Add density
Correct answer: C. Lock the powder inside the capsule
10. What is the purpose of banding or sealing hard gelatin capsules?
- A. Increase shell thickness
- B. Improve shelf-life
- C. Prevent separation and tampering
- D. Aid disintegration
Correct answer: C. Prevent separation and tampering
11. Which capsule size has the largest volume?
- A. 5
- B. 1
- C. 0
- D. 000
Correct answer: D. 000
12. What is the typical moisture content of hard gelatin capsules?
- A. 1–2%
- B. 5–10%
- C. 13–16%
- D. 20–25%
Correct answer: C. 13–16%
13. Which of the following drugs is NOT ideal for filling into a hard gelatin capsule?
- A. Hydrophobic powder
- B. Liquid drug
- C. Powder blend
- D. Granules
Correct answer: B. Liquid drug
14. Capsules made from hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) are suitable for:
- A. Soft chewable forms
- B. Non-vegetarian patients only
- C. Patients requiring vegetarian or vegan formulations
- D. Injectables
Correct answer: C. Patients requiring vegetarian or vegan formulations
15. Which process ensures uniform drug content in capsules?
- A. Hand-filling
- B. Over-encapsulation
- C. Homogeneous powder mixing before filling
- D. Sieve analysis
Correct answer: C. Homogeneous powder mixing before filling
16. What technique is used in industrial capsule filling machines to ensure precision?
- A. Spatulation
- B. Vibration filling
- C. Dosator and tamping pin method
- D. Free pouring
Correct answer: C. Dosator and tamping pin method
17. The disintegration time for a hard gelatin capsule is usually:
- A. Over 1 hour
- B. Less than 30 minutes
- C. 5 hours
- D. 2–3 hours
Correct answer: B. Less than 30 minutes
18. What factor affects capsule shell integrity?
- A. pH of gastrointestinal fluids
- B. Exposure to light
- C. Humidity during storage
- D. Capsule size
Correct answer: C. Humidity during storage
19. Which quality test is commonly done on filled capsules?
- A. Color matching
- B. Hardness testing
- C. Weight variation test
- D. Elasticity measurement
Correct answer: C. Weight variation test
20. Capsules are best stored in conditions that are:
- A. Warm and humid
- B. Cold and moist
- C. Cool and dry
- D. Bright and warm
Correct answer: C. Cool and dry
21. A primary function of capsule polishing is to:
- A. Color the capsule
- B. Remove powder from the exterior
- C. Harden the gelatin
- D. Add flavor
Correct answer: B. Remove powder from the exterior
22. Modified-release capsules are designed to:
- A. Dissolve in the mouth
- B. Provide immediate drug action
- C. Control or delay drug release
- D. Taste better
Correct answer: C. Control or delay drug release
23. One benefit of using capsule-in-capsule technology is:
- A. Extended-release formulation
- B. Fixed-dose combination of incompatible drugs
- C. Sweetening
- D. Better color blending
Correct answer: B. Fixed-dose combination of incompatible drugs
24. The primary route of administration for capsules is:
- A. Buccal
- B. Topical
- C. Oral
- D. Rectal
Correct answer: C. Oral
25. What characteristic helps gelatin dissolve in the stomach?
- A. Hydrophobicity
- B. Lipid solubility
- C. Water solubility and enzymatic degradation
- D. Polarity
Correct answer: C. Water solubility and enzymatic degradation
26. Incompatibility between a capsule shell and its contents can lead to:
- A. Faster absorption
- B. Improved flow
- C. Shell degradation or leaking
- D. Taste improvement
Correct answer: C. Shell degradation or leaking
27. Which of the following can delay the disintegration of gelatin capsules?
- A. Low temperature
- B. Stomach acid
- C. Enteric coating
- D. Sweeteners
Correct answer: C. Enteric coating
28. A capsule filled with microencapsulated pellets is typically designed for:
- A. Immediate release
- B. Topical action
- C. Sustained or controlled release
- D. Sublingual delivery
Correct answer: C. Sustained or controlled release
29. What excipient improves capsule content flow during filling?
- A. Alcohol
- B. Talc
- C. Glidants like colloidal silica
- D. Disintegrants
Correct answer: C. Glidants like colloidal silica
30. Which test is performed to ensure capsule content uniformity?
- A. Melting point
- B. IR spectroscopy
- C. Content uniformity assay
- D. Friability
Correct answer: C. Content uniformity assay
31. The primary material for softgel shell is gelatin with:
- A. Flavoring only
- B. High water content
- C. A plasticizer like glycerin
- D. Magnesium stearate
Correct answer: C. A plasticizer like glycerin
32. Capsules are especially suitable for:
- A. Bitter-tasting drugs
- B. Enteric-protected drugs
- C. Volatile oils without sealing
- D. Acid-labile drugs in water
Correct answer: A. Bitter-tasting drugs
33. The term “capsule locking” refers to:
- A. Resistance to dissolution
- B. Tamper-proof shell sealing
- C. Use in hard-to-swallow patients
- D. Increasing gelatin thickness
Correct answer: B. Tamper-proof shell sealing
34. For moisture-sensitive drugs, capsules may be made of:
- A. Plastic shells
- B. Gelatin only
- C. HPMC or dry-sealed gelatin
- D. Polyethylene
Correct answer: C. HPMC or dry-sealed gelatin
35. Overfilling capsules can lead to:
- A. Delayed release
- B. Improved compliance
- C. Improper locking and breakage
- D. Uniform dosing
Correct answer: C. Improper locking and breakage
36. Which instrument is used for manual capsule filling in compounding?
- A. Punch tool
- B. Tamping rod
- C. Capsule filling tray and tamper
- D. Rotary tablet press
Correct answer: C. Capsule filling tray and tamper
37. One reason for using colorants in capsules is:
- A. Reduce bitterness
- B. Enhance flowability
- C. Aid product identification
- D. Increase drug absorption
Correct answer: C. Aid product identification
38. What precaution should be taken for hygroscopic drugs in capsules?
- A. Use immediate-release form
- B. Avoid mixing with water-soluble lubricants
- C. Add desiccant or use low moisture capsules
- D. Reduce drug dose
Correct answer: C. Add desiccant or use low moisture capsules
39. Capsule shells are typically manufactured using:
- A. Extrusion
- B. Dip molding onto steel pins
- C. Direct compression
- D. Spray drying
Correct answer: B. Dip molding onto steel pins
40. Which capsule type is best for oily suspensions?
- A. Hard gelatin
- B. HPMC capsules
- C. Soft gelatin
- D. Rectal capsule
Correct answer: C. Soft gelatin
41. What is a common reason for capsule leakage?
- A. Air pressure
- B. Shell deformation from incompatible liquids
- C. Too much flavoring
- D. Too little colorant
Correct answer: B. Shell deformation from incompatible liquids
42. Capsule shell brittleness can be reduced by:
- A. Increasing humidity
- B. Drying capsules
- C. Lowering pH
- D. Adding more water
Correct answer: A. Increasing humidity
43. Enteric-coated capsules are used to:
- A. Mask odor
- B. Enhance flavor
- C. Bypass stomach acid for intestinal release
- D. Speed up disintegration
Correct answer: C. Bypass stomach acid for intestinal release
44. HPMC capsules are preferred over gelatin when:
- A. Faster disintegration is needed
- B. A vegetarian option is required
- C. Drug is oily
- D. Enteric coating is used
Correct answer: B. A vegetarian option is required
45. The ultimate purpose of capsule formulation is to:
- A. Make drugs look attractive
- B. Improve dosing convenience, protection, and patient compliance
- C. Avoid using excipients
- D. Replace all tablets
Correct answer: B. Improve dosing convenience, protection, and patient compliance
46. What is the typical size range of capsules used for human consumption?
- A. Size 7 to 10
- B. Size 000 to 5
- C. Size A to E
- D. Size 10 to 20
Correct answer: B. Size 000 to 5
47. What is the impact of humidity on hard gelatin capsules?
- A. Increases solubility
- B. Reduces disintegration time
- C. Causes softening or deformation
- D. Enhances taste
Correct answer: C. Causes softening or deformation
48. Which capsule excipient helps prevent electrostatic charge during filling?
- A. Magnesium stearate
- B. Sodium bicarbonate
- C. Talc
- D. Ethyl cellulose
Correct answer: C. Talc
49. For a capsule formulation containing two incompatible drugs, a suitable strategy is:
- A. Use of softgels only
- B. Increase capsule size
- C. Use capsule-in-capsule (double encapsulation)
- D. Reduce drug dose
Correct answer: C. Use capsule-in-capsule (double encapsulation)
50. Which type of capsule disintegrates more quickly in the stomach?
- A. Enteric-coated
- B. Soft gelatin without coating
- C. Delayed-release HPMC
- D. Wax-coated capsule
Correct answer: B. Soft gelatin without coating