Monophasic liquids – Liniments MCQs With Answer

Monophasic liquids – Liniments are single-phase topical solutions designed for application with friction to relieve musculoskeletal pain, stiffness, and inflammation. For B. Pharm students, understanding alcoholic liniments and oleaginous liniments, formulation principles (solubility, volatility, viscosity), excipients (penetration enhancers, antioxidants, fragrances), and quality attributes (assay, clarity, viscosity, stability) is essential. Key concepts include rubefacient and counterirritant action (menthol, camphor, methyl salicylate), vehicle selection, labeling (“For external use only,” flammability), packaging (amber glass/HDPE), storage, and patient counseling (avoid broken skin and mucosa). This introduction equips you to connect pharmaceutics with safe, effective topical therapy and exam readiness. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. Liniments are best described as which type of dosage form?

• Topical solutions or oily preparations applied with friction
• Sterile ophthalmic suspensions for ocular use
• Oral syrups intended for systemic absorption
• Parenteral emulsions for intravenous administration

Correct Answer: Topical solutions or oily preparations applied with friction

Q2. Which statement correctly defines a monophasic liquid?

• A preparation consisting of a single, homogeneous phase without dispersed solids
• A two-phase system with dispersed droplets stabilized by emulsifiers
• A semisolid system with gel network formation
• A multipurpose system containing suspended and dissolved components

Correct Answer: A preparation consisting of a single, homogeneous phase without dispersed solids

Q3. Alcoholic liniments are preferred when the desired effect includes:

• Rapid cooling and quick evaporation
• Occlusion and prolonged oily feel
• High water activity for hydrophilic drugs
• Formation of a protective waxy film

Correct Answer: Rapid cooling and quick evaporation

Q4. Which is a common counterirritant/rubefacient used in liniments?

• Methyl salicylate
• Paracetamol
• Diltiazem
• Lidocaine HCl for injection

Correct Answer: Methyl salicylate

Q5. Oleaginous liniments are most suitable for which situation?

• Massage therapy for chronic stiffness requiring lubrication
• Immediate cooling of acute sprains
• Treating infections of mucous membranes
• Intranasal delivery for systemic absorption

Correct Answer: Massage therapy for chronic stiffness requiring lubrication

Q6. Which label is essential for all liniments?

• For external use only
• For oral use only
• For intramuscular use
• For ophthalmic use

Correct Answer: For external use only

Q7. Liniments should not be applied to:

• Broken or abraded skin
• Intact skin over muscles
• Joints with mild soreness
• Skin before mild massage

Correct Answer: Broken or abraded skin

Q8. In monophasic alcoholic liniments, ethanol primarily functions as:

• Solvent and penetration enhancer
• Primary antioxidant
• Nonionic emulsifier
• Gelling agent

Correct Answer: Solvent and penetration enhancer

Q9. Which excipient is most appropriate to protect an oleaginous liniment from oxidation?

• Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
• Polysorbate 80
• Sodium benzoate
• Sodium chloride

Correct Answer: Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)

Q10. A liniment formulated as a true monophasic solution will typically require:

• No emulsifier
• High-HLB emulsifier
• Suspending agent
• Protective colloid

Correct Answer: No emulsifier

Q11. Which evaluation test is least relevant for a purely oleaginous monophasic liniment?

• pH determination
• Viscosity measurement
• Assay of active ingredient
• Peroxide value/oxidative stability

Correct Answer: pH determination

Q12. A key advantage of alcoholic liniments over oily liniments is:

• Non-greasy feel with faster drying
• Superior occlusion for dry skin
• Greater protection against oxidation
• Higher viscosity for prolonged residence

Correct Answer: Non-greasy feel with faster drying

Q13. Which of the following acts both as a counterirritant and a penetration enhancer in liniments?

• Menthol
• Lactose
• Starch
• Magnesium stearate

Correct Answer: Menthol

Q14. The statement “SHAKE WELL BEFORE USE” is most appropriate for which liniment type?

• Emulsion liniment
• Alcoholic monophasic liniment
• Oleaginous monophasic liniment
• Hydroalcoholic solution without dispersed phase

Correct Answer: Emulsion liniment

Q15. Appropriate packaging for light-sensitive, oxidation-prone liniments is:

• Amber glass bottle with tight closure
• Clear PET bottle without seal
• Open-mouth jar
• Metal can without liner

Correct Answer: Amber glass bottle with tight closure

Q16. Which patient counseling point is correct for liniments?

• Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes
• Apply under occlusive dressing to enhance heating
• Use on open wounds for faster relief
• Safe to combine with heating pads immediately

Correct Answer: Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes

Q17. The primary mechanism of action of rubefacient liniments involves:

• Stimulation of cutaneous receptors causing vasodilation and warmth
• Direct anesthesia of peripheral nerves
• Systemic anti-inflammatory action via oral absorption
• Antimicrobial activity on skin flora

Correct Answer: Stimulation of cutaneous receptors causing vasodilation and warmth

Q18. Which is a typical oily vehicle for oleaginous liniments?

• Olive oil
• Purified water
• Glycerin-water mixture
• PEG 400-water mixture

Correct Answer: Olive oil

Q19. For a hydrophobic active intended for deep massage, the best solvent system is:

• Oleaginous vehicle (e.g., fixed oils)
• Purified water
• Highly buffered aqueous media
• Only propylene glycol-water

Correct Answer: Oleaginous vehicle (e.g., fixed oils)

Q20. Which of the following is an appropriate antioxidant for edible fixed oils used in liniments?

• Alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E)
• Sodium nitrite
• Citric acid as sole antioxidant
• Polysorbate 20

Correct Answer: Alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E)

Q21. Which analytical test helps detect early oxidation in oily liniments?

• Peroxide value
• pH
• Microbial limit test for anaerobes
• Total dissolved solids

Correct Answer: Peroxide value

Q22. A formulation containing 40% ethanol, menthol, and camphor is best classified as:

• Alcoholic liniment
• Oleaginous liniment
• Emulsion liniment
• Aqueous lotion

Correct Answer: Alcoholic liniment

Q23. Which excipient is unnecessary in a true monophasic alcoholic liniment?

• Emulsifier
• Solvent
• Fragrance
• Antioxidant (if oxidation-prone solutes present)

Correct Answer: Emulsifier

Q24. A key safety consideration for high-ethanol liniments is to include which label warning?

• Flammable: keep away from heat or flame
• Sterile: suitable for injection
• Refrigerate between 2-8°C
• For ophthalmic use

Correct Answer: Flammable: keep away from heat or flame

Q25. To enhance spreadability and retention in an oleaginous liniment, formulators may:

• Increase viscosity with small amounts of waxy structuring agents
• Replace oil entirely with water
• Add high-HLB surfactant to form micelles
• Use only volatile solvents

Correct Answer: Increase viscosity with small amounts of waxy structuring agents

Q26. Which statement about preservatives in liniments is most accurate?

• Purely oleaginous liniments generally require antioxidants rather than aqueous preservatives
• All liniments require parabens
• Alcoholic liniments must be sterile and preservative-free
• Preservatives are irrelevant to any topical product

Correct Answer: Purely oleaginous liniments generally require antioxidants rather than aqueous preservatives

Q27. Patient counseling for topical analgesic liniments should include:

• Wash hands after application to avoid eye contact
• Apply on mucosal surfaces for faster absorption
• Cover with a heating pad to enhance effect
• Use on broken skin for deeper penetration

Correct Answer: Wash hands after application to avoid eye contact

Q28. From a pharmaceutics perspective, the principle “like dissolves like” guides which choice?

• Selecting oil vehicles for lipophilic actives
• Choosing water for hydrophobic solutes
• Using buffers to dissolve nonionizable oils
• Adding electrolytes to enhance nonpolar solubility

Correct Answer: Selecting oil vehicles for lipophilic actives

Q29. Which quality attribute is expected for a monophasic liniment during stability studies?

• Clarity without phase separation
• Rapid creaming with sedimentation
• Thixotropic gel formation
• Crystal growth of suspended solids

Correct Answer: Clarity without phase separation

Q30. Which combination best represents a classic rubefacient liniment?

• Methyl salicylate, menthol, camphor in ethanol
• Amoxicillin, glycerin, water
• Hydrocortisone acetate in saline
• Sodium chloride in water

Correct Answer: Methyl salicylate, menthol, camphor in ethanol

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