Powders represent one of the oldest and most fundamental solid dosage forms in pharmacy. For B.Pharm students, a thorough understanding of their properties, classification, and compounding techniques is essential. This knowledge is crucial for both traditional extemporaneous preparation and modern industrial applications. This quiz covers the key characteristics of various powders, including effervescent, hygroscopic, and eutectic mixtures, along with important techniques like geometric dilution.
- Which of the following is a primary advantage of powders as a dosage form?
- Accurate dosing for the patient
- Good stability for all drugs
- Rapid onset of action due to a large surface area
- Pleasant taste
- A powder that absorbs moisture from the air to the extent that it liquefies is known as:
- Hygroscopic
- Efflorescent
- Deliquescent
- Eutectic
- The technique used to ensure the uniform mixing of a small quantity of a potent drug with a large quantity of a diluent is called:
- Spatulation
- Trituration
- Geometric dilution
- Levigation
- Effervescent powders produce gas upon contact with water due to a reaction between a weak acid and a:
- Weak base
- Strong acid
- Carbonate or bicarbonate base
- Salt
- A powder containing water of hydration that may be released when the powder is stored in an environment of low humidity is:
- Hygroscopic
- Efflorescent
- Deliquescent
- Eutectic
- Dusting powders are intended for:
- Oral administration
- External application to the skin
- Parenteral use
- Inhalation
- A mixture of two or more solid substances that becomes liquid upon mixing at room temperature is a(n):
- Hygroscopic mixture
- Efflorescent mixture
- Eutectic mixture
- Effervescent mixture
- Which of the following is a major disadvantage of bulk powders?
- Inaccuracy of the dose
- Slow drug dissolution
- High manufacturing cost
- Difficult to swallow
- A powder that contains only one chemical ingredient is classified as a:
- Compound powder
- Simple powder
- Bulk powder
- Divided powder
- What is the gas liberated from effervescent powders?
- Oxygen
- Hydrogen
- Carbon dioxide
- Nitrogen
- To handle a eutectic mixture, a pharmacist can mix each component separately with a(n) ______ before mixing them together.
- Lubricant
- Adsorbent powder
- Solvent
- Binder
- Powders that are individually wrapped for the patient are known as:
- Bulk powders
- Dusting powders
- Divided powders
- Effervescent powders
- Which of the following must be sterilized if it is to be applied to open wounds?
- Oral powders
- Surgical dusting powders
- Effervescent granules
- Insufflations
- A powder that readily absorbs moisture from the air but does not liquefy is best described as:
- Efflorescent
- Hygroscopic
- Eutectic
- Anhydrous
- The process of grinding a powder in a mortar with a pestle is called:
- Spatulation
- Trituration
- Sifting
- Tumbling
- A common acidic ingredient in effervescent formulations is:
- Sodium bicarbonate
- Citric acid
- Calcium carbonate
- Magnesium oxide
- Which of the following is a key requirement for a good dusting powder?
- It must be very coarse.
- It must be free-flowing and non-irritating.
- It must be highly soluble.
- It must be a eutectic mixture.
- A powder containing two or more substances that have been mixed together is a:
- Simple powder
- Compound powder
- Atomic powder
- Monograph powder
- The primary reason for packing hygroscopic powders in airtight containers is to prevent:
- Loss of potency
- Moisture absorption
- Color change
- Reaction with the container
- Menthol and camphor are classic examples of substances that form a:
- Hygroscopic mixture
- Eutectic mixture
- Efflorescent powder
- Effervescent mixture
- In the first step of geometric dilution, the potent drug is mixed with:
- The entire amount of diluent
- An approximately equal volume of diluent
- A small amount of solvent
- A lubricant
- The main purpose of effervescence in a dosage form is to:
- Improve the drug’s stability
- Mask the unpleasant taste of the drug
- Increase the particle size
- Provide a local anesthetic effect
- Which excipient would be suitable for managing an efflorescent powder?
- Using an anhydrous form of the drug
- Adding a wetting agent
- Storing in a high-humidity environment
- Using a larger particle size
- Divided powders are a way to overcome which disadvantage of bulk powders?
- Poor stability
- Unpleasant taste
- Inaccurate dosing
- Slow dissolution
- Finely divided powders intended for insufflation are administered into the:
- Skin
- Stomach
- Bloodstream
- Body cavities (e.g., ear, nose)
- Which of the following is a common basic ingredient in effervescent powders?
- Tartaric acid
- Citric acid
- Sodium bicarbonate
- Aspirin
- The process of mixing powders by passing them through a sieve is known as:
- Trituration
- Spatulation
- Sifting
- Tumbling
- Kaolin and light magnesium carbonate are examples of substances used to:
- Make a mixture effervescent
- Act as adsorbents for eutectic mixtures
- Increase the solubility of powders
- Color the powder
- Which problem can occur if an efflorescent powder is not handled correctly?
- It will absorb water from the air.
- It will release its water of hydration, potentially making the powder damp.
- It will form a liquid with other solids.
- It will produce gas when water is added.
- What is the simplest method of mixing small amounts of powders?
- Trituration
- Spatulation
- Geometric dilution
- Sifting
- Compared to tablets or capsules, a therapeutic effect from a powder is generally:
- Slower
- Faster
- The same
- Delayed by several hours
- A common diluent used in geometric dilution is:
- Water
- Alcohol
- Lactose
- Talc
- Why must effervescent granules be protected from moisture during storage?
- To prevent a premature effervescent reaction
- To prevent the growth of mold
- To prevent the powder from becoming hygroscopic
- To prevent the powder from dissolving
- Which type of powder is generally not intended for oral use?
- Bulk powders for antacids
- Divided powders in sachets
- Dusting powders
- Effervescent powders
- The particle size of a powder can influence its:
- Dissolution rate
- Flow properties
- Bioavailability
- All of the above
- The angle of repose is a property used to measure the:
- Particle size of a powder
- Solubility of a powder
- Flow characteristics of a powder
- Moisture content of a powder
- Talc is often used in dusting powders as a:
- Medicated agent
- Lubricant and protective agent
- Coloring agent
- Binding agent
- The final step in geometric dilution involves:
- Adding the most potent ingredient first
- Mixing all ingredients at once
- Adding the remaining diluent and mixing thoroughly
- Sifting the mixture through a fine mesh
- Which of the following is an example of an official compound powder in some pharmacopoeias?
- Compound Sodium Chloride Powder
- Compound Aspirin Powder
- Compound Paracetamol Powder
- Compound Ranitidine Powder
- The main disadvantage of hygroscopic and deliquescent powders is related to their:
- High cost
- Poor therapeutic effect
- Physical instability due to moisture
- Bitter taste
- Why is a combination of citric acid and tartaric acid often used in effervescent powders?
- To prevent the mixture from becoming sticky
- To provide different rates of dissolution and effervescence
- To improve the color
- To reduce the cost
- The term “bulk” powder implies that:
- The dose is measured by the patient using a device like a teaspoon.
- The powder is very dense.
- The powder is individually wrapped.
- The powder is for external use only.
- Which statement is true regarding eutectic mixtures?
- They are a type of effervescent powder.
- The melting point of the mixture is lower than any of its individual components.
- They release water upon exposure to air.
- They are desirable for improving powder stability.
- An example of a drug that is efflorescent is:
- Caffeine
- Sodium sulfate decahydrate
- Calcium chloride
- Camphor
- What is the primary reason for granulating effervescent powders?
- To increase the particle size and control the rate of reaction
- To make them less potent
- To make them easier to dissolve instantly
- To change their color
- Which of the following would require careful handling in a dry environment?
- Efflorescent powders
- Hygroscopic powders
- Eutectic mixtures
- Dusting powders
- The primary purpose of divided powders (chartulae) is to:
- Provide a large amount of medication
- Provide a single, accurate dose of medication
- Be used externally
- Be dissolved to create an effervescent drink
- A powder’s “flowability” is an important property in the manufacturing of:
- Solutions
- Tablets and capsules
- Ointments
- Syrups
- Which of the following is NOT a method for mixing powders?
- Trituration
- Spatulation
- Tumbling
- Sublimation
- The choice of paper for wrapping divided powders depends on the properties of the drug. For hygroscopic drugs, one would use:
- Simple bond paper
- Vegetable parchment paper
- Waxed paper
- Glassine paper
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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